Depression in Ghana: Not Lazy, But Surviving Exhaustion

In Ghana today, too many are silently battling something we’ve been too slow to understand: depression. It’s often mislabeled as laziness, a lack of prayer, or even a moral failing. But the truth is more sobering — depression is not about weakness; it is about survival fatigue.

Every day, people are hustling not just to live, but to stay sane. The weight of chronic poverty, unstable family structures, unemployment, and constant financial anxiety has created a national emotional drought.I Add the pressure of unpaid debts, rent deadlines, school fees, and daily food insecurity — and it’s no wonder people are emotionally crashing.

Many are not lazy. They’re worn out. From carrying the expectations of families, managing pain in silence, and having no safe space to say, “I’m not okay.” And instead of compassion, they’re often met with criticism — even in places that should offer comfort: churches, families, and community groups.

When someone begins to withdraw, sleep excessively, lose interest in life, or avoid responsibilities, they’re not seeking attention. They are crying for relief.

We’ve normalized hardship to the point that asking for help feels like weakness, and pretending to be okay has become a survival skill.

But how long can we keep pretending?

Dr. David Rex Orgen, Best-Selling Author and International Mental Health Expert, is confronting this crisis through InspireMind Global — a nonprofit committed to rewriting Ghana’s mental health narrative. His team is educating leaders, equipping churches, training teachers, and creating safe spaces in schools, prisons, and underserved communities.

We must move beyond silence and shame. Let’s stop saying “be strong” and start building a country where it’s okay to say, “I need help.”

🧠 Bring InspireMind Global to your school, workplace, or church.
Together, we can create a Ghana where healing is6 possible and hope is restored.

📞 Contact: info@inspiremindglobal.com
🌍 Learn more: www.inspiremindglobal.com

Written by Dr. David Rex Orgen, Best-Selling Author and International Mental Health Expert.