It is a step in the right direction for the only organisation in this nation providing in-patient mental health treatment. Goshen Trust has just opened a new facility that would allow them to do their work better.

There needs to be more done to improve the status of mental health in the nation. There are posters and signs splattered across the national hospital that say mental health is part of health. However, these are just words and there is little action.

The Goshen Trust remains the only organisation that takes care of in-patients, more is required from the government. There is a habit of incarcerating mental health patients with violent tendencies in the prisons. This particular action needs to be stopped as the corrections officers are not equipped to deal with mental health cases.

This leads to further abuse of mental health patients making their conditions worse. The government and the health ministry need to actively engage more personnel in specialised training to deal with mental health. A government facility to deal with such patients is urgently needed.

People fail to realise that mental health is a broad subject. Not all mental health cases are of schizophrenia.

The World Health Organisation describes mental health as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a basic human right. And it is crucial to personal, community, and socio-economic development.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why it is much easier for people to indulge in alcohol abuse and be prone to violent acts including domestic violence. A study into this phenomenon would yield interesting results.

Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders. It exists on a complex continuum, experienced differently from one person to the next, with varying degrees of difficulty and distress and potentially very different social and clinical outcomes.

A study on mental health in Samoa shows that until the 1960's, many Samoans believed that mental illness was brought on by the devil. A "demon" living inside the person caused them to act the way they were. This was a widespread misperception all across the world, but very strong in Samoa because of the heavy influence of Christianity.

This is slowly changing and people in Samoa are slowly acknowledging what mental health diseases are but very few take steps to get their loved ones treated. It is much harder for men.

In Samoa, someone with mental health illnesses is either ignored or brushed aside by society by saying ‘he has gone nuts’.

Mental health is described as a state of well-being where a person can cope with the normal stresses of life. This state permits productive work output and allows for meaningful contributions to society.

Don’t we want this for Samoa? A more productive society and a society where all aspects of health, both mental and physical are looked after.

We all know that different circumstances may affect the ability to handle life’s curveballs. These factors may also disrupt daily activities, and the capacity to manage these changes. That is why mental health should be a priority for the health system, even for the education sector.

The lack of mental health care in the nation has taken a setback. The only psychiatrist has taken on a more academic role, a not-for-profit body has had to close down, and with it the suicide helpline it used to operate.

The main hospital is in tatters, so you can imagine where all the focus is. However, there is a silver lining if there is commitment. Private corporations can look into the mental welfare of their staff through awareness and counselling sessions.

Government offices can take a similar approach. But in the end, what is needed is a renewed look at mental health and not just celebrating World Mental Health Day by having a parade through town.

We can do better than just having one psychiatrist. Let us get serious about mental health.

Have a blessed Sunday.