HEALTH

1. Development of mental health professionals

Mental Health Care in Bhutan although limited, is integrated in primary health care system. Mental Health Program has been training all doctors on identification and management of mental illness with technical support from National Referral Hospital whereby all hospitals in Bhutan provides services for basic mental health care. Health Assistants, who runs Basic Health Units, are trained in their pre service training on basic mental health care services in Faculty of Nursing and Public Health, KGUMSB. Currently, we have four national Psychiatrists and two Psychiatric nurses. With limited mental health professionals, treatment gap is expected in our communities though we don't have formal studies. We don't have psychologist, clinical counselors and social workers. Therefore, developing mental health professional and strengthening existing health workers through short term training is one of our priorities.

2. Financing for mental health activities

With increasing burden of mental disorders in the country, comprehensive mental health care services need to be developed. We have been seeking support from development partners and donor agencies to mobilize funds to top up the fund allocated by the government to accelerate important activities. Activities like awareness to reduce stigma associated with mental disorders and prevention of mental disorders are program priority.  Hence, mobilizing funds through various sources for conducting our activities and interventions is also one of the urgent agenda for the program.

3. Strengthening policies and laws on mental health

Policies and laws are important areas which can enhance in provision of mental health services to needy ones. It helps in having proper channel and organized system for delivery of services. However, for effective implementation of the policy and laws certain facilities like adequate human resource and infrastructure needs to be in place which we are in process of building such facilities. So, developing adequate human resource and infrastructures is area that we are concentrating and exploring possibilities to partner with different global partners, universities and institutes.  

4. Research and information system

Our activities for promoting mental health and preventing mental disorder needs to be based on the need of the people and the communities. Prioritizing the needs has to rely on evidence which in turn needs to be generated through good information source and research works. With limited capacity and fund for conducting scientific research, thus leading to limited research on mental health filed. Therefore, this area is one of the potential and feasible area where we can collaborate with universities to develop capacity of National Program and health workers to strengthen the research ethics for generating good information on mental health.