Nana Akua Dansoah Nuamah
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Mental HEalth Awareness for HeaRing ImpaireD (M-HEARD) GhanaGhana
Nana Akua Dansoah Nuamah is a psychiatrist who is passionate about mental health awareness, prevention, early detection, and improved access to quality care within communities. She is actively involved in clinical work, teaching, research and advocacy, and believes that with consistent dedication to innovative thinking and interventions the mental health landscape can be positively transformed. Nana is dedicated to enhancing the systems in place to provide awareness to mental disorders at all levels and provide sustainable, evidence-based interventions.
IVLP Impact Award Project: Mental HEalth Awareness for HeaRing ImpaireD (M-HEARD) Ghana
The M-HEARD project was a mental health, emotional care and wellbeing awareness project which bridged the existing mental health literacy gap among persons with hearing impairments in Ghana. By developing 15 mental health educational videos and resources incorporating the Ghanaian sign language, the project sought to use creative, relatable, readily accessible and credible resources to bring enlightenment on the subject of mental health and wellbeing among persons with hearing impairments.
Project videos were shared via a screening in collaboration with members of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf and House of Grace School for the Deaf. They will have a long-term impact by allowing resources to be readily available to the public at no cost. 55 students engaged with the videos at the House of Grace School for the Deaf and 266 students engaged with the videos at Dr. Ocloo State School for the Deaf. The videos were also shared on social media and have reached over 10,000 people. The project also created two animations that gave an overview of mental health and informed viewers of 10 myths and facts about mental health.
"I am hopeful that this M-HEARD project will help dispel various myths about mental health and prove a credible resource for mental health education." - Nana Akua Dansoah Nuamah
IVLP Exchange Experience
Nana was a participant in the IVLP Project Innovations in Mental Health, Emotional Care, and Well-Being (with S/GHD) organized by the U.S. Department of State and Institute of International Education.
Nana's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "A core principle learnt during my IVLP experience was the need for greater inclusivity in mental health related projects and programs developed. Though not fully perfected by the various organizations visited, and numerous challenges discussed, the point noted was some attempt at inclusion was being made. "
U.S. Communities Visited
San Diego, CA; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Baltimore, MD; Raleigh, NC;