About Us
Welcome To BasicNeeds-Ghana
A Pioneer and Leading Mental Health Advocacy Development Organization in Ghana.
Advancing dignity, rights and opportunity for people with mental health conditions, their families and communities.
Advancing mental health and development.
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Our Story
Established in 2002, BasicNeeds-Ghana is legally registered and operating as an NGO in Ghana, working throughout the country. The organisation has its roots in BasicNeeds Trust, UK, and remains a member of the BasicNeeds Network (BNN), coordinated by cbm UK.
We have implemented three five-year strategic plans. Our current plan, for 2022–2026, is themed “Total Health: No Health without Mental Health.”
"Treatment alone may not be enough when people face poverty, stigma, social exclusion, and limited opportunities to participate in community life"
Our Vision
People with mental illness or epilepsy live in dignity and satisfy their basic needs and exercise their basic rights.
Our Mission
To develop and implement initiatives that directly involve people with mental illness or epilepsy, and their families and communities and other organisations to enhance self-determination and influence public opinion and decision-making on mental health and development.
Who We Are
A Mental Health and Development Organisation
BasicNeeds-Ghana is a pioneer and leading mental health and development advocacy organisation in Ghana, with over 20 years’ experience implementing and promoting initiatives to transform the lives of people with mental health conditions or epilepsy, their families and communities.
We do this by catalysing access to integrated community-based mental health care, socioeconomic rehabilitation, rights-based public policy advocacy, anti-stigma awareness creation and inclusive community development.
What We Do
We engage and collaborate with state and governmental agencies and non-state actors, particularly community-based organisations, to implement interventions — serving variously as grant manager and resource organisation.
As an expert and experienced organisation in delivering mental health and development initiatives, we also support emerging organisations focused on mental health, community development and human rights. We are well endowed with human resources, office infrastructure, machinery and logistics, as well as substantial governmental and community legitimacy and goodwill.
Our Approach
The Mental Health and Development Model
We implement the unique, innovative, people-centred and rights-based BasicNeeds Mental Health and Development (MHD) model. Our model is community focused: it starts with talking to the community and identifying problems, and moves through treatment, local volunteers and self-help groups, training and micro-credit for livelihoods, and reducing stigma, to acceptance and a return to community life.
Its activities strengthen systemic and community health and social structures to enhance integrated Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS).
Working Together
Partners, Funders & Networks
We work alongside government, civil society and international partners, and are an active member of national and global networks for mental health.
Networks and Collaborators
Networks we convene or are part of:
- Ghana Mental Health Alliance (convened by BasicNeeds-Ghana)
- Global Mental Health Action Network (GMHN), led by United for Global Mental Health. (United GMH)
- Catalyst Now — Mental Health Track
- NETRIGHT
- Coalition of NGOs in Health
- BasicNeeds Network (BNN), coordinated by cbm UK
Funders
Past and current funders and partners include:
- UK FCDO
- UK NIHR
- Expertise France
- Anesvad Foundation
- UNDP-AFCIA
- STAR Ghana Foundation
- BasicNeeds USA Inc / ECOM Foundation
- Janssen / Johnson & Johnson
Partners
We collaborate with:
- Ghana Health Service
- Mental Health Authority
- Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP)
- MoLGCRA / MMDAs
- World Health Organization
- cbm
- United for Global Mental Health
- Global Fund Ghana CCM
- CHAG, CPRI, MEHSOG, MIHOSO, GKS, MindFreedom, Voice Ghana, Rights & Rehab. Ghana and RISE Ghana
The funders who make our work possible
Our Funders
We are grateful to the institutions and foundations whose funding sustains our mental health, research and community programmes across Ghana.
Explore More
Discover Our Work
Learn more about how we work and the projects we implement across communities in Ghana.