Vice President of Maldives National Party (MNP), and Thimarafushi Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Abdulla Riyaz has submitted a motion to the parliament, calling for the establishment of a system to provide Mental Health Services under a circular policy.

MP Riyaz stated that the lack of a proper framework regarding mental health services prompted him to submit the motion, which refers to the current public awareness regarding mental health and the provision of mental health services.

He further stated that another reason behind the submission of the motion is the lack of proper mental health services, as well as the slow processing of such services at the state-run Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.

MP Riyaz noted that the government had not given priority to the Strategic Action Plan 2019-2023 which highlights the improvement of mental health services and the establishment of a proper system to seeking mental healthcare.

Other points included in the motion:

• Establishing mental health services in the Atolls to reduce differences in access to mental healthcare in the Capital City and the Atolls

• Failure to recruit mental health professionals from abroad in the same way that professionals are recruited from other fields

• Lack of self-care or programs to help self-diagnose for such issues in the event of hesitation to go to a clinic or hospital

• Lack of proper research or study to determine the state of mental health illnesses in the country

In the motion, MP Riyaz had called on to establish a proper system to provide mental healthcare for those who need it.