First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has stated that every person's mental wellbeing deserves genuine care and attention, noting that each employee comes to work carrying their own weight of personal, family, and health concerns, alongside worries for their children's education.
She made these remarks while officiating the opening ceremony of the Seminar on Workplace Mental Wellbeing. Held over two days by the National Mental Health Department (NMHD) in collaboration with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and World Health Organisation (WHO) Maldives, the seminar is designed for supervisors and managers across the Civil Service.
In her address, the First Lady underscored the importance of caring for the mental wellbeing of the many thousands who serve in the Civil Service. Drawing on figures from the WHO, she noted that depression and anxiety cause the loss of some 12 billion working days worldwide each year, amounting to an estimated USD 1 trillion in lost productivity. She further highlighted the 2021 STEPS Survey, which found that one in five people in the Maldives experiences symptoms of depression, and called for concerted efforts to address workplace discrimination and stress.
She expressed hope that the seminar would produce evidence-based, practical recommendations grounded in research, and urged institutions to transform Maldivian offices into supportive environments where employees' mental wellbeing is assured and those seeking services are met with care. She also called for a culture of mutual respect and camaraderie across all organisations, to strengthen productivity.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Health, Family and Welfare, Geela Ali; the President of the CSC, Uz Mohamed Mujthaz; senior officials and staff of the NMHD; and senior officials from various State institutions.
