President opens first centre for mental health in Maldives

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih opened Monday morning a Centre for Mental Health at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Solih noted the “long wait-list” of people who seek appointments, the social stigma surrounding mental illnesses, and the struggle of Maldivians who suffer from mental illnesses to seek treatment due to the acute shortage of qualified professionals.

The main aim of the first national centre for mental health in the Maldives is to “provide treatment compassionately to mental health patients through a holistic system and at national level,” he said.

With a multi-disciplinary team, the centre offers emergency care as well as outpatient and inpatient services including diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation and occupational therapy, according to IGMH.