FAITH AND MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT
CFAS hosted a Mental Health Summit themed "Rooted in Faith, Resilient in Mind, Ready to Thrive" on 22nd May 2026 at the ISSER Conference Room, in partnership with Faith and Mental Health Incorporated and the Department of Psychology. The event brought together mental health practitioners, faith leaders, retirees, psychology academics, NGOs, and students to explore the intersection of faith and mental wellbeing.
Pastor Mary Banks opened by speaking on how church community and service support mental health, while Pastor Nana Arthur shared a personal account of his wife's mental health struggles and recovery, alongside reflections from an elderly attendee on forgiveness and compassion. Madam Ethel called for religious leaders to build fluency in mental health language and for practitioners to develop cultural and spiritual competence, stressing that presence matters more than solutions.
In the keynote, Rev. Prof. Joseph Osafo Adu shared the story of a devout young man who died by suicide despite his faith, after being told by his pastor that his suffering reflected insufficient faith. He argued this illustrates how some religious framing can deepen rather than heal mental wounds, and redefined the summit's theme: being rooted in faith means allowing room for doubt and honesty; a resilient mind means acknowledging pain and sometimes leaving harmful situations; and readiness to thrive is communal, not material. He called for a Ghana where church and clinic work as allies, not strangers.
The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Jonney Andoh and featuring Rev. Michael Enu, Dr. Seth Mawusi Asafo, Dr. Esi Ansah, Dr. Kristine Marbell Pierre, and Mrs. Mary Safori, addressed the need for closer collaboration between churches and mental health agencies, caregiver burnout, and the importance of intergenerational support within faith communities. The event closed with a vote of thanks from Dr. Delali Dovie.
Key outcomes included growing recognition of the need to train younger generations in relational and social care, equip church leaders with mental health literacy, and normalise seeking help. Minor challenges included technical slide issues and food shortages due to higher-than-expected attendance. Attendees requested more such sessions, particularly within churches, and recommended a swift press release and photo gallery to sustain momentum.