Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has called on employers to establish supportive working environments where people experiencing mental health challenges can seek help without fear of discrimination or judgement.
He said stigma and the fear of being excluded often prevent people from speaking openly about their struggles, making it necessary for institutions to promote understanding and prioritise mental well-being.
The Chief Justice made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Supreme Court Judge Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah during this year’s World Mental Health Day celebration at the Court Complex in Accra.
The event, organised by the Greater Accra Regional Health Service in collaboration with the Judicial Service of Ghana, was held on the theme: “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
Mr Baffoe-Bonnie urged the public to listen to people experiencing mental health difficulties with empathy and ensure their experiences inform policies and support systems.
“We must listen with empathy; most importantly, we must let those experiences inform how we design policies, provide support, and respond to people going through difficult periods in their lives,” he said.
He noted that the demanding nature of work within the Judicial Service could expose staff to situations involving conflict, trauma, loss, crime and family disputes, with potential consequences for their mental health.
He stressed that mental well-being should be treated as a fundamental part of a healthy and productive workplace rather than a secondary concern.
“It is therefore important we recognise that mental well-being is not a peripheral matter; it is an essential part of a healthy, effective and human workplace. We must therefore create an institutional culture in which seeking help is not regarded as a weakness,” he said.
The Chief Justice added that the well-being of judicial officers and other staff was crucial to the effective administration of justice, as their work required clarity of thought, integrity and compassion.
He encouraged the use of mental health assessments and screening to support early detection, prevention and timely intervention.
Mr Baffoe-Bonnie further called for a shift from merely expressing sympathy for people with mental health conditions to establishing practical systems that provide the necessary assistance.
“As a society we must move from merely sympathising with people experiencing mental health challenges to creating systems of support,” he said.
He also urged workplaces to keep discussions on mental health active, encourage colleagues to support one another and promote access to professional care.
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