Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has called upon employers to establish inclusive and supportive work environments that effectively diminish stigma surrounding mental health conditions.
The Chief Justice delivered this message through a speech presented on his behalf by Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah, a Supreme Court Judge, during this year’s World Mental Health Day observance held at the Court Complex in Accra.
The occasion, coordinated by the Greater Accra Regional Health Service and the Judicial Service of Ghana, was conducted under the theme: “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
The Chief Justice advocated for compassionate and readily available healthcare services alongside institutional frameworks that emphasize mental well-being. He emphasized that stigmatization and apprehension regarding judgment or social exclusion prompt certain individuals to conceal their difficulties, and he encouraged society to engage with them attentively and without bias.
“We must listen with empathy; most significantly, we must allow those experiences to guide our policy development, support provision, and response to individuals navigating challenging circumstances in their lives,” he stated.
The Chief Justice noted that the Judicial Service operates within a challenging context, where exposure to disputes, trauma, loss, criminal matters and familial conflicts may compromise the mental health of personnel.
“Consequently, we must acknowledge mental well-being is not a secondary concern; it constitutes a fundamental component of a productive, functional and humane workplace. We must therefore cultivate an organizational environment in which seeking assistance is not perceived as inadequacy,” he remarked.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie underscored that the psychological health of judicial officers and personnel is indispensable to an efficient judicial system, which depends upon individuals capable of executing their responsibilities with precision, honesty and humanity. He observed that evaluations and mental health examinations could facilitate prevention, prompt identification and swift action.
“As a collective, we must transition from simply expressing sympathy toward individuals facing mental health difficulties to establishing comprehensive support frameworks,” he stated.
The Chief Justice called upon organizations to maintain ongoing dialogue regarding mental health, foster mutual vigilance among staff members, and facilitate access to professional assistance.
The initiative encompassed screening procedures for persistent medical ailments and evaluations of mental health status.
