The only organisation in Samoa to offer in-patient mental healthcare, Goshen Trust opened its half-a-million tala facility on Friday.

The project, valued at up to US$170,975 (approximately SAT$454,000) was made possible through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP), and aims to enhance care and rehabilitation services for individuals facing mental health challenges in Samoa.

The land for the new facility located in Vailima was provided by the Government of Samoa. It consists of 16 bedrooms, a large multipurpose room, a consultation room, a small office and essential amenities such as toilets, basins and shower rooms.

Japan’s Ambassador to Samoa Keisuke Senta said the facility symbolised the strong partnership between Japan and Samoa and serves as an important step forward in addressing mental health challenges in the country.

“Our dream is that this new building will become a beacon of hope and a healing hub where people may undergo life-changing experiences thanks to the careful work of the Goshen Trust on the larger mental health community,” said Keisuke Senta.

“I saw how crucial Goshen Trust is to our national health plan; their work enhances our efforts to offer mental health treatment, and the addition of this new facility will further increase their influence” he added.

Goshen Trust's inclusive approach is based on faasamoa principles to help restore identity and rekindle each person's particular need.

It is about working closely with the National Mental Health Unit and prioritising community and family.

The emphasis is on reintegrating patients into their families while acknowledging that Aiga is essential to their long-term health and recovery.

Minister for Health Valasi Tafito Selesele said the government realised that to secure resources and meet the growing demand for mental health services, the dedicated Goshen Trust team required financial help.

“Giving to people in need is a matter of the heart as much as one's health,” he said.

“I give Goshen Trust orders to fulfil this holy obligation. The ideals of health care include compassion, sacrifice, and devotion, and these are exemplified by the dedicated employees who work toward their duties and goals underbid.

“We go at a moment when we are more affected than ever by the five social isolations' stresses and the difficulties associated with mental health. As a country, we must react with compassion, understanding, and decisive action.

"We need to keep investing in human capital and infrastructure to up-skill employees, improve our care models, and broaden our understanding of mental health.”

He also stated that advancing mental health services was a step toward a healthier prosperous and more inclusive future.

He said mental health care was not a privilege for few but a light for all

These additions significantly improve the Goshen Trust's ability to provide high-quality mental health services.