The Ministry of Gender and Family has said that in addition to the cases reported in the capital, Malé, their latest statistics indicate that there is an increase in the number of people with mental illnesses in the atolls as well.
Last Friday, a 25-year-old man was found dead in the lagoon of Gaafu Alifu Kanduhulhudhoo. Reportedly, he was a mental health patient who had been seeking treatment for his condition for over a year and was also under the supervision of the gender ministry. The death of the young man highlighted the severity of the mental health crisis in the Maldives.
An official from the ministry who spoke to Mihaaru news said that a large number of cases are reported every day. "There are a lot of people who suffer from different kinds of mental illnesses in the country."
He said that the way average Maldivians' daily lives are routined could also be contributing to the growing number of mental health cases in the country.
"A lot of families are going through this. We've been providing assistance to a lot of cases," the official said.
He emphasised the need for all relevant authorities to work together, as there is still a lot of work to be done in this area. There are also matters that need to be resolved and mechanisms that could be strengthened immediately, he said.
The gender ministry is responsible for ensuring that people with mental illnesses receive regular medication and treatment, as well as providing counselling and guidance to their families.
Due to the growing number of people seeking assistance for mental health issues, the National Mental Health Department, under the Ministry of Health, was constituted by a directive of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
At the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), where the Centre for Mental Health is located, there is a long waitlist of patients seeking professional help. There were about 3500 people enlisted at IGMH; however, by mid-2022, the number began to lessen as mental health treatments became more accessible.
According to a recent study conducted by the Ministry of Health, one in five people in the Maldives has depression.
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