Healthy Minds, Successful Nation


Written by Fahmida Ashraf • Region • January 2011

After the end of the devastating 25-year civil war in May 2009, the important challenge for the Sri Lankan government is the resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced Tamils and reconstruction of the war affected Northern and Eastern provinces (the Tamil majority provinces). As part of the rehabilitation process the Sri Lankan government has to deal with some important issues, such as, structural development; restoration of civil liberties; providing basic economic, social, and health facilities. The bloody last phase of the civil war has left a deep feeling of distrust and uncertainty in the minds of the affected people, mainly Tamils. There is a need to build greater trust and better relationship between individuals, families, communities and government institutions providing services to the Tamils in the Northern and Eastern provinces. According to the World Health Organization’s estimates about three percent of the Sri Lankan population is suffering from some form of mental illness. During a discussion at the Melbourne University in October 2010, Dr. Jayan Mendis, Director, National Institute of Mental Health in Sri Lanka stressed that during the post-conflict period mental health was the most important health issue in the country.

Sri Lanka basically has a government funded public health system also supported by the private sector. According to the World Psychiatry Journal, October 2010, about 1.6 percent of the total health budget is spent on mental health. The Sri Lankan government has conducted a National Mental Health Survey for ascertaining the most common mental disorders. The 1873 Mental Health Policy has been redrafted and the government has now adopted the National Mental Health Policy based on community mental health services, particularly for the Northern and Eastern provinces. In this connection the Sri Lankan government is working with national humanitarian organizations as well as international organizations, such as, World Health Organization, International Organization for Migration, and USAID’s Office of Transition Initiative. The Australian government through its aid agency, AUSAID, in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Health Ministry has launched a project called the ‘Reconciliation through Integration of Mental Health in Northern Districts’ for implementing special mental health projects in the Northern Province. Moreover, there is a National Mental Hospital supported by psychiatrists, social workers, and support staff also having provincial psychiatric inpatient units all over the country. However, because of the civil war and uncertain situation many trained psychiatrists left the country. Therefore, there is a shortage of trained psychiatrists. According to the World Psychiatry Journal, October 2010, total population of Sri Lanka is about 19 million, but only 48 psychiatrists to deal with them. This means approximately one psychiatrist for 500,000 persons. Although, now some psychiatrists have returned to the country, yet to cope with the shortage the Sri Lankan government started a one-year diploma courses in 2008 and those who have completed the course have been appointed in rural areas.

The three decades of civil war and brutal policies of the Sri Lankan government and also the LTTE have traumatized the people, particularly people in the Northern and Eastern provinces. As part of the strategy to stabilize and develop the affected regions it is necessary to provide proper mental health facilities to develop trust and the feeling of security in the minds of the affected people. Though still much needs to be done in this context, however, it is important to note that the Sri Lankan government has not ignored this important aspect of the society and has been working for developing mental health facilities in the country.