Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has garnered significant global attention since January 2020 due to its rapid transmission. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared SARS-CoV-2 infection a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) [
1]. Many lives and livelihoods were lost due to its devastating effects. Families and communities experienced separation since the introduction of preventive measures such as physical distancing, closing educational institutions, advising against non-essential travel, and promoting remote work [
2,
3].
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted not only the physical health of the population but also every aspect of our daily lives [
4,
5]. Amidst these health, social, and economic ramifications, mental health has been significantly affected [
6]. A surge in anxiety has been observed among many individuals, while for others, COVID-19 has triggered or intensified more severe mental health issues [
4‐
7]. In general, while there is an increasing demand for mental health support, there has been a significant disruption to mental health services [
8]. This disruption was particularly pronounced during the initial stages of the pandemic when personnel and resources were frequently redirected to COVID-19 response efforts. Studies from Spain, Australia, UK, Romania and Italy on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental healthcare have shown a decrease in the utilisation of mental health services, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown with also decreasing admissions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic [
9‐
16]. These trends were mostly attributed to the limited bed numbers, ward closures, and fears of spreading the virus [
17]. Other countries also experienced many changes in policy, legislation, guidelines and practices such as introducing personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, self-isolation, social distancing and increased video consultations [
17,
18]. Transition wards or corridors were also instituted in some instances for patients to await test results before admission or after discharge [
17]. A rapid review of the impact of COVID-19 on work and personal outcomes in mental healthcare workers found that many mental healthcare workers were significantly impacted by the pandemic through increased workload, constant changes in roles and reported increased indirect trauma and workplace violence. There were also reported symptoms of burnout, psychological distress and psychosocial challenges for both those working in inpatient settings and those working remotely [
19]. To address the consequences of the pandemic on mental health, public awareness and the provision of adequate mental health services, particularly among vulnerable groups who may face challenges in accessing such services, became even more crucial [
6].
Ghana, a lower middle-income country, reported its first two cases of SARS-CoV-2 on March 13, 2020, and has since experienced numerous confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19-related deaths [
20,
21]. In Ghana, an alarming 10% of the population suffer from mental illnesses, with a treatment gap of 98% [
22‐
24]. This is primarily due to the over-reliance on institutionalised care for mental healthcare services [
22]. In addition to this, the system suffers many deficiencies such as poor funding for mental health services, lack of human resources as well as inadequate in-patient and outpatient facilities [
23,
25,
26]. Given the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the general healthcare system, it was imperative to investigate the specific impact of COVID-19 on a system with significant deficiencies even before the onset of the pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ghana’s mental healthcare system.