Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim on Monday revealed plans to further expand inpatient psychiatric services at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, IGMH.
He revealed it at the closing of a workshop on the adoption of the World Health Organisation, WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme.
Speaking as the chief guest of the closing ceremony, the Minister said “mental health is a neglected area and that the government is undertaking significant efforts to further improve mental healthcare in the country.” He said “the Government is in the process of formulating a national mental health policy to improve the lives of people with mental illness”.
“The Government is working to improve access to mental health care in the atolls and further strengthen mental health care services provided at IGMH”, he added.
The workshop, organised by Mental Health Awareness Foundation, was aimed at providing information to healthcare service providers on the adoption of the World Health Organisation, WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme - Intervention Guide.
The WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) aims at scaling up services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders for countries especially with low- and middle-income.
The programme asserts that with proper care, psychosocial assistance and medication, tens of millions could be treated for depression, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, prevented from suicide and begin to lead normal lives– even where resources are scarce.
The 6-day workshop which concluded on Monday was held at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, IGMH.
According to Mental Health Awareness Foundation, participants of the workshop included policymakers and officials who are directly and indirectly involved in providing treatment for mental health patients.
The foundation said discussions at the workshop were focused on ways to tackle issues ranging from mental health awareness to treatment and drafting policies relevant to establishing a proper mental health care system.