Global events such as conflicts that raise living expenses, as well as climate change continue to inflict severe levels of anxiety and depression on many, says First Lady Fazna Ahmed.

She said this remark during her virtual address at the high-level roundtable on "Rethinking Mental Health: A Commonwealth Call to EMPOWER, Care and Transform," held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.

As such, the first lady shed light on the importance of mental health support and cited the several global crises that are impacting the mental wellbeing of many.

The first lady of Maldives shed light on the challenged facing Maldives in providing services and care for mental health patients and highlighted the significant gaps in mental health systems across the globe.

Fazna stressed on the restrictions on the availability of mental health professionals, the dispersion of the scatter of islands comprising the Maldives as well as restrictions in recruitment and long waiting lists.

Going on to acknowledge the steps taken to develop mental health services across the country, including adopting the National Mental Health Strategic Plan, the first lady said that it aims to ensure inclusive and effective psychosocial support and expand the national universal health insurance scheme to cover mental health illnesses.

The administration in March 2019, also established the Centre for Mental Health at the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

She went on to speak regarding the significance of strengthening mental health services and removing stigma, adding that it leads to increasing numbers of people seeking help, staying in school, being treated and learning to continue their careers and lives.

With this being said, she urged for more substantial financial investment in mental health services, inclusive access, research and ensuring practitioners maintain a strict code of ethics.

"Rethinking Mental Health: A Commonwealth Call to EMPOWER, Care and Transform" mirrors the Commonwealth's principle of promoting access to “affordable” healthcare and removing “wide” inequalities and inadequate living standards.

The first lady and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih are in Kigali, Rwanda to attend the meeting being held from June 20 – 25.