President Solih: Little kindness can make a world of difference for someone in need

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Tuesday, has remarked that a little kindness can make a world of difference for someone in need.

In a post on the social media platform of X (formerly Twitter) on the occasion of World Mental Health Day – he said everyone, everywhere deserved understanding, empathy and resources.

October 10^th is annually marked as World Mental Health Day.

With mental health issues on the rise in the Maldives, the biggest obstruction to addressing the issue is the long wait patients have to endure in order to seek treatment. Moreover, some patients are hesitant to seek help over stigmas surrounding mental health.

The current administration, during the past five years, undertook multiple efforts to improve mental healthcare in the Maldives. Mental health centers were established at IGMH and Hulhumale’ Hospital for the first time as part of these efforts.

In addition to this, they also established the services of psychiatric services in five regions across the Maldives.

Despite the establishment of mental health centers, patients are waitlisted for months on an end for a consultation, with over 600 patients currently queued at IGMH’s mental health centre for a consultation with a psychiatrist.