MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES NEED GREATER ATTENTION

BY JORDAN VELA

Laloki Psychiatric Hospital in Central Province marked World Mental Health Day by calling for greater government support, improved facilities and stronger efforts to address stigma and discrimination against people living with mental illness.

The event was held under the theme “Lived experiences heard: real voice, real change.”

Hospital representatives highlighted challenges including facility maintenance, limited support for mental health services and staff shortages.

Guest speaker Dr. Nelson Mek, director of Social Change and Mental Health Services, said mental health concerns were raised with the government at a health conference in Port Moresby last week.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Sr. Renagi Moliyola also stressed the need for government and community support to help reduce stigma and discrimination and improve understanding of mental illness.

Hospital representatives also raised concerns about drug-related issues among patients, including teenagers from primary and high schools.

The hospital’s staffing ratio and the substances involved in drug-related cases require further confirmation