Health and wellness organisation Heale has called for increased recognition of the mental health, wellness and self-care needs of people living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) as the world marks World Sickle Cell Day 2026.

The organisation made the call ahead of its World Sickle Cell Day commemoration in Accra under the theme, "Think heale: Mental Health, Wellness, and Self-Care in Sickle Cell Disease."

According to Heale, while awareness of the physical complications of Sickle Cell Disease has improved over the years, the emotional and psychosocial challenges associated with the condition often receive less attention.

The organisation noted that people living with SCD frequently face anxiety, emotional distress, social isolation, uncertainty about the future, stigma and the demands of managing a lifelong condition, all of which can affect their quality of life.

Speaking on the importance of the theme, Haematologist, Sickle Cell Disease advocate and Heale co-founder, Dr. Enam Sefakor Bankas, said mental health and wellness should be considered essential components of Sickle Cell care.

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

The event will bring together people living with Sickle Cell Disease, caregivers, healthcare professionals, mental health experts, policymakers, advocates, students and members of the public to discuss the emotional and psychosocial aspects of living with the condition.

Participants are expected to engage in expert presentations and panel discussions on mental health, wellness practices, self-care strategies, caregiver support and the role of communities in improving the quality of life of people living with SCD.

Heale also urged policymakers to strengthen support systems for people living with Sickle Cell Disease, while encouraging healthcare providers to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into routine care. The organisation further called on communities to challenge stigma and on families and caregivers to support emotional well-being alongside physical health.

The organisation said meaningful progress in Sickle Cell care requires recognising the whole person and expressed hope that discussions from this year's commemoration would contribute to improved physical, emotional, social and mental well-being for those living with the condition.

Heale is a Ghana-based health and wellness initiative that supports individuals living with benign haematological conditions, including Sickle Cell Disease, through advocacy, education, psychosocial support, community engagement and wellness programmes. The organisation continues the work of Sickle Life and the Sickle Cell Awareness Initiative, whose interventions have impacted more than 150,000 people since 2018.