Politicians in the country were urged to “take mental health seriously” by Brigham Young University Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology Kawika Allen.
He said politicians should implement programs to promote the wellbeing and health of people’s minds and emotions.
“Focus on for the overall health of the Fijian people, people here that reside in Fiji,” Mr Allen said.
“I often wonder that they don’t necessarily take mental health or mental health issues very seriously.
“Or they may think that, oh, we can just dismiss it, it’ll get better on its own or just get better yourself — but it actually requires quite a bit of professional expertise, and each individual to be able to intervene and help individuals to improve.
“So there needs to be some sort of psychological services involved with mental illness.
“If you’re hearing me out there, politicians — one, take it seriously, and two — implement programs where you are promoting wellbeing and the health of our minds and our emotions, through professional services that are credible.”
Mr Allen urged politicians to realise that mental health was a real and serious issue.
Associate clinical professor and licensed psychologist Hoku Conklin said the Government needed to allocate resources in the area of mental health.
“As an advocate for mental health, I think that this is something that is important to give attention to,” he said.
