Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH)'s National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) is to hold the first ever mental health conference of the Maldives.

The conference named; 'Oevaru' is scheduled to commence on 15th October 2023.

The two-days conference will be held at Villa Nautica Resort on 15th and 16th October. Participation of this conference is open to all.

Speaking on why the NCHM decided to hold a conference on mental health, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Arif Mohamed stated that one of the main reasons for holding such a conference is to conduct research relevant to the environment Maldives, create a culture of research and make policy decisions based on relevant evidence and statistics.

Dr. Arif noted that this conference will give relevant authorities a platform to hold discussions on the topic.

Highlighting that mental health should be given a higher priority at the national level, Dr. Arif noted that the 'Oevaru' Mental Health Conference is intended for a diverse audience. As such, this includes mental health professionals, scholars, policy makers and stakeholders from various disciplines and sectors.

People who have experienced mental health issues and those who provide care and support to them, as well as those who have an interest in mental health, are also invited to the conference.

The conference will feature academic presentations on the latest research and innovative techniques in the field of mental health. Additionally, a panel discussion will be held to address the challenges and opportunities associated with mental health issue and the importance of establishing evidence-based policies.