One in Five Maldivians Shows Signs of Depression, Workplace Discrimination Must End: First Lady
13 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ބުރާސްފަތި 10:03Inaugurating a symposium dedicated to enhancing mental health in the workplace, First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has called for greater prioritization of employee psychological well-being. She emphasized the importance of transforming offices into respectful and productive environments, while further advocating for the use of evidence-based academic research to ensure comprehensive mental health support.
First Lady Sajidha Mohamed delivers remarks as the guest of honor at the opening ceremony of a symposium dedicated to strengthening mental health and well-being in the workplace. | President's Office
With one in five people in the Maldives reportedly experiencing symptoms of depression, First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has called for an end to workplace discrimination and the elimination of stressors in professional environments.
She made this appeal while speaking as the guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the "Symposium on Strengthening Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace."
The First Lady has highlighted the vital importance of prioritizing the mental well-being of the thousands of employees within the Maldivian civil service. She made these remarks at the opening ceremony of a two-day symposium organized for civil service supervisors and managers, held in collaboration with the National Mental Health Department (NMHD), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and WHO Maldives.
The First Lady stated that every employee arrives at work carrying various personal concerns and anxieties, ranging from family and health matters to their children's education, emphasizing the need to be attentive to the mental well-being of every individual.
In her remarks, she highlighted World Health Organization statistics showing that depression and anxiety result in the loss of approximately 12 billion working days globally each year, amounting to an estimated $1 trillion in lost productivity. Citing the 2021 STEPS Survey, which revealed that one in five people in the Maldives experiences symptoms of depression, she called for an end to discrimination and stressors within the workplace.
During the symposium, she highlighted the importance of developing research-based academic and practical papers aimed at transforming Maldivian workplaces into environments that guarantee the mental well-being of employees and ensure satisfaction for service seekers. She further urged all staff to foster a culture of mutual respect and camaraderie to enhance overall productivity.
