Sunday 11 Oct 2026
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu chairs a cabinet meeting on October 6, 2026. (Photo/President's Office)
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says his administration is working on drafting a comprehensive Mental Health Act.
In a post on X on Saturday on occasion of World Mental Health Day, President Muizzu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building “a compassionate, accessible and equitable mental health system, guided by the voices and lived experiences of those it serves, and tailored to the needs of our people.”
He said the administration was working on advancing this commitment through the Mental Health Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029, while working on policy and legislative reforms.
According to President Muizzu, these reforms include formulating a national mental health policy and a comprehensive Mental Health Act.
The country currently does not have dedicated mental health laws, despite the prevalence of mental illness.
On #WorldMentalHealthDay, we reaffirm our commitment to building a compassionate, accessible and equitable mental health system, guided by the voices and lived experiences of those it serves, and tailored to the needs of our people. We are advancing this commitment through the Mental Health Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029, while working on policy and legislative reforms that include formulating a National Mental Health Policy and a comprehensive Mental Health Act. We are also improving access by integrating mental health into primary healthcare, strengthening regional and specialist services, and enhancing tele-mental health and crisis response systems. Our aim is to prioritise prevention and early intervention, ensure quality healthcare is within reach, and build a kinder and caring Maldives, one island, one community, and one honest conversation at a time. #WorldMentalHealthDay
— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) October 10, 2026
President Muizzu added that his administration was also improving access by integrating mental health into primary healthcare, strengthening regional and specialist services, and enhancing tele-mental health and crisis response systems.
“Our aim is to prioritize prevention and early intervention, ensure quality healthcare is within reach, and build a kinder and caring Maldives, one island, one community, and one honest conversation at a time,” he said.
According to the Health Ministry, the Survey on Prevalence of Non-Communicable Disease - STEP Survey 2020-2021 shows one in five people in the Maldives suffer from depression.
