First Lady Sajida: Seeking Mental Health Help Is a Courageous Act

First Lady Sajida Mohamed stated that seeking assistance for mental health is not a weakness and emphasized that society must be built to view it as a courageous act. She made these remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the 16th International Conference of the SAARC Psychiatric Federation, which was launched at the Maldives National University. Addressing the ceremony, Sajida said that mental health is not solely related to medical treatment. She further stated that it is directly linked to human dignity, human relationships, and hopes for the future. Additionally, she highlighted that there are many stories behind every mental issue and stressed that the support of the entire community is extremely important in building a healthy society by recognizing these matters. Noting that the challenges related to mental health faced in South Asian countries are similar, she stated that the SAARC Psychiatric Federation provides an opportunity for experts in the region to come together and find solutions. She also expressed hope that with the discussions and studies of this conference, the field will progress further in the future. "We need to change this. We must build a society that views seeking help for mental health not as a weakness but as a courageous act, prioritizes empathy over criticism, prioritizes support over discrimination, and does not require enduring this pain alone," the First Lady said. Sajida has acknowledged the efforts of the national university in training personnel in the field of mental health and conducting research to build capacity in this area, thanking healthcare professionals serving in the field of mental health. She also stated that a healthy future can only be built by cultivating a mentally healthy generation.