ICP: 1 in 4 Maldivians face mental health issues

One in four Maldivians has a mental health issue, Chairperson of the Institute for Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICP) Dr Mariyam Shakeela said on Sunday.

She made the remarks while addressing the participants of a special panel discussion organised by ICP on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.

Shakeela, who previously served as the health minister, said:

While there have been so many psychological issues in the Maldives, studies have shown that "tragic incidents have occurred due to the lack of help and intervention provided to target age groups, in required amounts," Shakeela said.

She also noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that providing the most effective treatment to build a mentally healthy society will become the biggest challenge faced by health sectors all over the globe in the not-too-distant future.

Global statistics released last year show:

State health minister Dr Shah Abdulla Mahir highlighted this at the ceremony held by ICP. He said that while mental health issues are now common in the Maldives, treatments are not sufficiently established in the country.

"We need to walk away from the stigma that surrounds mental illness; the way people look at and talk about mental illnesses. There are problems in giving and receiving treatment for people and their families suffering from mental illness because of it," Shah said.

Noting the importance of changing attitude towards mental illness, Shah said that mental illness should be given the same weight as illnesses such as heart diseases.

October 10 is celebrated as World Mental Health Day under an annual theme. This year's theme is 'ensuring mental health and wellbeing for all becomes a global priority'.