According to the World Health Organization one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide. In Ghana about 650,000 people are suffering from a severe mental disorder and a further 2,166,000 are suffering from a moderate to mild mental disorder. Although treatments are available, nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. Stigma, discrimination and neglect are some of the reasons preventing care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders. This has got to STOP! As we observe #bellletstalkday today, I would like to humbly ask that you reach out to a family member, a friend or a colleague who is keeping to themselves to lend a helping hand. It might be the difference between life and death. Reach out to a mental health professional or someone you trust if you're going through it yourself. Life has a lot more to offer than whatever we're going through at the moment. Please please REACH OUT! No one is an island. We're all in this together! When we work together, we become collectively stronger. Lets keep the conversation going to break the stigma associated with mental illness. I usually don't write this long a caption but this is very dear to my heart and I needed you to hear me. I apologize if I bored you with this post! Thanks! #ripjimhoward #bellletstalk #bellletstalkday #reachout #bethedifference #weareinthistogether #nooneisanisland #lets 📸@rosequartzimagery (at Joe Shanti Films) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQPZLtgtPk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gze6q0yi23j0