Statistics paint a dire picture of mental health in Maldives

Statistics from Aasandha indicate that the amount of people seeking treatment for various mental health-related issues has increased, as did the expenditure on it.

As per the figures shared with Sun by Aasandha, since 2018, over 30,000 people seek treatment for mental illnesses annually.

This is a concerning amount for a population as small as Maldives.

Statistics of people seeking treatment for mental illnesses:

- 2012 : 16 people

- 2013: 987 peoople

- 2014: 10,762 people

- 2015: 18,308 people

- 2016: 23,141 people

- 2017: 28,502 people

- 2018: 35,851 people

- 2019: 44,055 people

- 2020: 43,988 people

- 2021: 37,876 people

Despite this many people seek care, and patients have to wait on long waiting lists to consult with a doctor.

While IGMH’s total waiting list had 6,000 people recently, over 3,000 of them were on the hospital’s Mental Health Center’s waiting list.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has opened a centre dedicated to mental illnesses in IGMH, with Asandha coverage, fulfilling this presidential pledge in 2019.

Additionally, in 2020 Aasandha coverage expanded to private clinics and hospitals as well.

With all this expansion, the amount spent by Aasandha on mental illnesses has also increased significantly.

Aasandha coverage of mental illnesses over the years:

- 2012 : MVR 1,950

- 2013: MVR 159,762

- 2014: MVR 1,951,472

- 2015: MVR 3,658,659

- 2016: MVR 5,813,690

- 2017: MVR 7,664,982

- 2018: MVR 11,313,277

- 2019: MVR 14,418,011

- 2020: MVR 14,177,676

- 2021: MVR 11,427,942

 The most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses in Maldives are Depression and anxiety. Both these diseases are common amongst both males and females of all ages.