Heale calls for greater focus on mental health and self-care in sickle cell disease care

As the world marks World Sickle Cell Day 2026, health advocacy group Heale is calling for stronger attention to the mental health, wellness, and self-care needs of people living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), alongside traditional medical treatment.

This year’s commemoration is being held under the theme “Think heale: Mental Health, Wellness, and Self-Care in Sickle Cell Disease,” and will bring together patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, mental health experts, policymakers, students, and advocates to discuss the broader challenges of living with the condition.

Heale says that while progress has been made in managing the physical complications of SCD, the emotional and psychosocial burden of the disease remains under-recognised. According to the organisation, many patients continue to face anxiety, social isolation, stigma, caregiver strain, and uncertainty about the future, all of which significantly affect quality of life.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dr. Enam Sefakor Bankas, haematologist, SCD advocate and co-founder of Heale, stressed the need for a more holistic approach to care.

“Health is more than the absence of disease, and healing is more than medical treatment,” she said. “Mental health, wellness, and self-care are not luxuries. They are essential components of living well with Sickle Cell Disease.”

Heale noted that the event will feature expert presentations and panel discussions focused on mental health, self-care strategies, caregiver support, and the role of community in improving patient outcomes.

The organisation is also urging policymakers to strengthen support systems for SCD patients, calling on healthcare providers to integrate psychosocial care into routine treatment, and encouraging communities to address stigma and discrimination.

Families and caregivers were similarly encouraged to support not only the physical needs of patients but also their emotional wellbeing, while individuals living with SCD were urged to prioritise wellness and self-care.

Heale, a Ghana-based health and wellness initiative, continues the work of Sickle Life and the Sickle Cell Awareness Initiative, and says its programmes have impacted more than 150,000 people since 2018.

The group says its long-term goal is to ensure that people living with Sickle Cell Disease are supported not only to survive, but to thrive physically, socially, and mentally.