Specialized clinic in the works as Thinadhoo battles an alarming rise in mental health issues

Ahmed Ashraf, the CEO of Dr. Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital, has announced plans to open a mental health clinic this year in Thinadhoo City.

In an interview to Public Service Media (PSM), Ashraf said that Huvadhoo Atoll has a lot of families in need of easier access to mental health services.

He said that records show an alarming rise in mental health issues, especially in Thinadhoo.

He said that mental health issues are especially high among individuals of school age.

Ashraf said that the Dr. Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital decided to open a specialized mental health clinic in light of the high number of patients seeking mental health care in the city.

 Ashraf said that construction is already underway on the clinic, and that the hospital is working to have it up and running this year.

A spokesperson from the hospital told Sun that they are working to open the clinic during the fourth quarter of the year.

“We are working to complete all works and open it during the last quarter of this year. We will also be hiring the staff and doctors we need during the last quarter, as soon as the clinic is done,” said the spokesperson.

Despite the high number of mental health patients in the Maldives, access to proper services remains a challenge due to the centralized nature of the country’s healthcare system.

Last year, the Health Ministry announced plans to expand mental health care to the atolls to address this issue.

Meanwhile, the Aasandha scheme has been expanded to include mental health services from seven clinics.