The Director of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Kwadwo Marfo Obeng, yesterday opened a washroom ren­ovated at the cost of GH¢ 60, 000.

The initiative formed part of efforts to combat the stigma sur­rounding mental health.

The Director of the Hospital highlighted that "internalised" stigma occurs when people with mental illnesses adopt negative perceptions about themselves, believing that their illness defines their worth and future.

Dr Obeng indicated that the project was a crucial part of a broader effort to bring mental health to the forefront of national conversations, and make the coun­try a model for how stigma could be overcome in the fight for better health care. "By raising awareness about the damaging effects of internalised stigma and offering support for those suffering in silence, the ini­tiative hopes to empower individ­uals to seek help without fear of judgment," Dr Obeng said. "The hospital was originally founded with international stan­dards, leading the way in medical care, especially in psychiatry before the advent of anti-psychotic med­ications.