Sir John: Covering mental health important

THE low- level coverage of metal health disorder in the country is not healthy for a young, developing nation where more than half the population are children, Cardinal Sir John Ribat says.
He said children were the most valuable asset in any country’s development and ought to be protected psychologically to develop into mentally healthy adults to contribute meaningfully to the country.
He said the newly formed Directorate for Social Changes and Mental Health Services was the first health reform in PNG and the Pacific, which would ensure that social change and mental health services were improved and expended to reduce mental health problems and illness in society.
He said the National Executive Council in 2010 had approved and formed the Mental Health Act which the Directorate for Social Change and Mental Services.
“The directorate will be entrusted to monitor the mental wellbeing of people in their communities, to promote and encourage the maintenance of community mental health at an acceptable level by planning and delivering good mental health practices with related health services.
“Through this work, they will be able to help our children and people at home to be aware and to know that this service is available for them so they to come and seek support for their well-being.
“I have to say that we need to work together to make sure that this service is reaching out to our people and those who are affected and need this help.”
He said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had encouraged the service to be operational in the country “but we need the support to really go beyond this so we can see that the service is effective and available for the people”.
He said a mentally healthy workforce and society was vital for high productivity at the work place and in school.
“At the moment a health centre has given us a space where we are operating.
“I am appealing to the government to work with us to ensure that this part of the service for our people is available for them,” Sir John said.
He said the governor-general had launched the directorate in 2011 at the St Joseph Church in Boroko.