ABSTRACT
In Ghana, as in most African countries, social work’s uneven development dates back to the evolution of formal social welfare services in the colonial era. The very idea of a social work profession sits uneasily in a paternalistic social system, where chiefs and elders within the extended family system are the first port of call for individuals and families experiencing personal and social problems (Sottie & Boateng, 2014). Despite colonial welfare development, the traditional extended family and community support system remains the backbone of Ghanaian society, which makes it doubly difficult to combat stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness. Despite scientific advances in the understanding and treatment of mental illness, these traditional institutions exert excessive sanctions against people living with mental illness and families who have members who are mentally ill. So, while cultural traditions might constitute a type of insurance and security for most people experiencing problems in their living conditions, it does not do much for persons who are mentally ill and their families (Apt & Blavo, 1997; Dako-Gyeke & Gilbert, 2014).
