NRH mental health department dealing with 1,652 cases in first half of 2025, Health minister Bosawai tells Parliament
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
In the first half of 2025 alone (January to June) the Psychiatric Department of the National Referral Hospital managed 1,652 mentally ill patients, of which around 9 percent were new cases.
While causes of mental health illness are numerous, drugs is one of the leading causes in the country, Health Minister Dr Paul Popora Bosawai told parliament yesterday.
This alarming state was observed with a consistent increase of referrals of patients from January to June 2025, indicating a growing public awareness, as well as the ongoing psychosocial stresses faced by many citizens.
And of particular concern were 44 new cases of psychosis, highlighting the urgent need for strengthening our mental health services capacity and public health response, Mr Bosawai said.
Minister Bosawai revealed this alarming statistic, when responding to questions asked by Opposition Leader Matthew Wale on the health ministry’s (MHMS) plan to expand and improve services to mental patients in the country.
The Minister said the MHMS recognises the increasing demand for mental health services across the country, in responding to a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach.
“We aim to strengthen the system from both clinical and community-based perspectives, relating to early detection, prevention, and timely treatment.
“One of the focuses of MHMS is to scale up access to early detection and prevention, because early treatment is very important for mental illness,” Bosawai added.
The Minister said MHMS has appointed provincial mental health coordinators at provincial hospitals to improve coverage and coordination.
Despite the important campaign, issues such as logistics, staff and infrastructure remain challenging keys to strengthening mental health accessibility.
A team from NRH is also going around giving treatment to psychiatric patients, and will continue with this work.
He said on the partnership with Kilu’ufi hospital, the ministry continues to collaborate closely with the National Psychiatric Unit at Kilu’ufi hospital, particularly to transfer patients over there.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele in his address at the 80th Session of UNGA earlier this year had said that “the Pacific is confronted with rising Mental health and abuse of drugs”.
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