Gov't remains committed to expand mental healthcare nationwide: President

The incumbent government remains committed to expand mental healthcare across the entire nation, assures President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The president took to Twitter in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day on Saturday, expressing that access to mental health services remains a “key aspect” of the government’s public health outlook.

The president noted that the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic underscores the importance of quality mental healthcare to be accessible across the nation.

The Vice President, Faisal Naseem also took to Twitter to mark the World Mental Health Day. VP Naseem noted that the unprecedented impacts of Covid-19 have affected the mental health of many people.

He went on to stress on the importance of being there for loved ones as the country and its people contends to rise above these challenging times.

It is of utmost importance to be kind to one another and to oneself, above all, said VP Naseem.

Maintaining and spreading awareness regarding mental health has been one of the many priorities of the incumbent government.

As such, the government has established a National Mental Health Center and has been expanding treatment for mental illnesses as part of which arrangements have also been made to cover treatment under the health insurance scheme, Aasandha.

This year’s World Mental Health Day falls at a time the Covid-19 pandemic has swept across the entire nation, stirring despair in many regions. Doctors have stressed that the number of people contacting the Center for Mental Health at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) regarding mental health issues due to the pandemic, has increased by threefold.

The World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10, annually. It revolves around the objective of raising awareness on mental health issues globally and mobilize efforts in support of mental health.