The government’s decision to establish a dedicated mental health hospital in the Greater Malé Region was driven by the growing number of people seeking mental health treatment, Minister of Health, Family and Social Welfare Geela Ali has said.
Speaking in Parliament in response to a question from Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim, Minister Geela revealed that more than 70,000 mental health consultations were conducted across the Maldives over the past three years.
According to the minister, nearly 45,000 of those consultations were recorded in the Greater Malé Region alone, highlighting the concentration of demand for mental health services in the country’s most populated area.
Geela said the figures underscore the urgent need for a specialized facility capable of providing comprehensive mental health care and treatment.
“Mental health services require a dedicated treatment system and specialized facilities,” she told Parliament, while outlining the government’s plans for the new hospital.
As part of the initiative, the government has allocated a 10,000-square-foot plot in Hulhumalé for the development of the facility.
The minister noted that the Maldives has never had a dedicated mental health hospital despite a growing need for such services. She said limited investment and attention given to the sector in previous years had created challenges for patients seeking access to treatment and long-term care.
Mental health has become an increasingly prominent public health issue in the Maldives, with healthcare professionals and advocacy groups repeatedly calling for expanded services, greater awareness and improved access to treatment.
Geela said the current administration has placed a stronger focus on strengthening mental health support systems nationwide.
Among the recent initiatives highlighted by the minister was the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of 60 individuals through specialized programmes. She also revealed that the national mental health helpline received more than 10,000 calls last year, reflecting growing public engagement with mental health support services.
While psychiatric and counseling services are already available in various parts of the country, the proposed hospital is expected to provide a more advanced and coordinated model of care.
According to the government, the facility will offer modern treatment infrastructure and a comprehensive range of mental health services designed to meet increasing demand.
The planned hospital forms part of broader efforts to improve healthcare services and address evolving public health needs as the Maldives continues to expand access to specialized medical care.
