MALE, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives Health Ministry announced it would soon provide psychiatric facilities across the island country to patients suffering from mental health issues, local media reported on Friday.
Health Minister Abdulla Ameen, in a statement said these psychiatric clinics would be set up in all leading hospitals in every island where mental health patients could seek treatment.
The minister further said that work was also underway to initiate campaigns across the country to raise awareness about mental illnesses, and how families and society could take care of such individuals.
According to the Health Ministry on March 25, the Mental Health Centre at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) had provided treatment for approximately 4,000 patients since its establishment.
Currently, the place offers OPD consultations, in-patient treatment, emergency treatment, diagnoses, medication, psychological services, rehabilitation and occupational therapy.
Each year, the World Mental Health Day is celebrated internationally on Oct. 10 to raise awareness and bring prevalent issues to the limelight, increasing mental well-being through cooperation between the government, organisations and international bodies.
This year, various activities were carried out in the Maldives under the central theme of "Mental Well-being", including a walk organised by IGMH's Centre for Mental Health on Oct. 4.
