An intimate perspective on the crucial Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana, featuring a close-up of a student's hand poised with a pen, actively engaged in writing. The subtle blur of classmates in the background underscores the shared, serious atmosphere of the examination. The distinct Ghanaian public or private school uniform worn by the student grounds the image firmly in its authentic West African setting. This visual encapsulates the dedication of young Ghanaians striving for educational advancement and the future generation's pursuit of knowledge in Africa.
Photo Credit: iStock Images

Our Ecosystem Catalyst (EC) Grants help scale youth-led ideas, remove barriers to mental health prevention and promotion support, and test how youth-led innovation can work within and improve existing systems.

Ecosystem Building in Ghana

Ghana has a well-structured national mental health ecosystem with the education system recognizing the importance of school mental health. However, stakeholder consultations highlighted gaps in current school health programs, which primarily focus on nutrition and lack structures to support mental health initiatives—particularly those addressing bullying prevention.

The Ecosystem Catalyst Project

The Research and Grant Institute of Ghana (ReGIG) will leverage existing networks and infrastructure and collaborate with relevant partners, in particular the Mental Health Authority (MHA), Ghana Education Service (GES), Ministry of Education and Ghana Health Service, working together to improve coordination around the integration of mental health and wellbeing into Ghana’s school health programs, building local demand for school-based mental health innovations with the potential to improve young people’s mental wellbeing in the process.

ReGIG seeks to achieve the following objectives:

  • Enhance the use of mental health information and innovation by promoting high-potential mental health innovations and mobilizing local demand.
  • Develop national school mental health guidelines that contribute to the improved mental health and wellbeing of students and teachers by mapping key stakeholders in the school ecosystem and establishing a National School Mental Health Coordination Team.
  • Promote increased national funding and investment in the school mental health ecosystem by mapping available funding sources and through awareness and advocacy efforts.