More than 23,000 people have contacted the Government's dedicated mental health helpline for assistance, Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali has said.
The Government introduced the dedicated 1677 helpline on 21 January 2024 to provide assistance related to mental health concerns.
Speaking on the Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu programme “Ahaashey Bunaanan”, Minister Geela said more than 23,000 people have contacted the helpline for assistance with various mental health-related concerns. She said the service safeguards information about those seeking assistance to ensure their personal information remains confidential.
Minister Geela said mental health remains an area of significant concern and that the Government places high priority on developing the mental health treatment system. She described the helpline as a bridge between the public and the Government, providing a means to hear concerns in the sector and work towards finding solutions.
The concerns raised through the helpline and the information collected through the service provide a clearer picture of the state of mental health in the Maldives, the challenges facing the healthcare system and the changes needed to further improve the system, she said. Although no formal study has yet been conducted in this area, Minister Geela said the information being collected provides significant support for policymaking.
“The helpline has received more than 23,000 calls. The calls received through the helpline, together with information from doctors and counsellors, provide a clearer picture of the situation. However, the Government's mixed survey will conduct further studies in this area,” Minister Geela said.
She said the Government would use the findings of the mixed survey to further develop mental health services.
The Government is also formulating specific policies to develop the human resources needed to expand mental health treatment and extend these services to the atolls.