With World Mental Health Day being marked on Friday, Goshen Trust has appealed to the Government for more support for the services it is providing.

The organisation has over the years provided a free service to house patients with mental health disorders. Established in 2010, Goshen Trust provides short-term and long-term stays to patients with mental health disorders, especially in cases where they cannot be looked after by their families. The non-profit can house 12 patients at any one time with their services provided for free.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer on Thursday, Goshen Trust Chief Executive Officer, Naomi Eshraghi said the work of the organisation goes beyond just housing patients, who also undergo rehabilitation and are taught skills that can enable them to generate small income for themselves. 

She said while the Samoa government has increased its funding to Goshen Trust this year, the cost of the services that they provide is much more than the value of the grants that they receive. 

“The Government has increased their funding to us for this year and I thank them. However, the service we provide requires much more than what we are actually getting,” she said. “This year’s theme is 'mental health is a universal right' and this also means that mental health should be a priority. 

"We are hoping that there is a bit more focus from the Government towards this cause. On the trend, we are on and because of the increase in the number of patients, the operations of the Goshen Trust are not sustainable. 

"There have been times when board members and even I had to use money out of our own pockets.”

Mrs. Eshraghi said they have partners who fundraise as well as companies who provide support but to keep their services going, they need long-term financial support. 

The Goshen Trust recently started their long-term stay for patients, as they have found out that some families either do not have the resources to look after family members with mental disorders or they just do not want to.

The work of the organisation is also not just limited to accommodating patients, as there have been instances when they have had to go to village councils and communities, to assist families who have a member with mental disorders. 

“It is stigma and there is a lack of awareness in some places. We have had to request village councils and had to save families from near banishment because they are not aware of the issue,” she said. “There needs to be a holistic  approach where mental health and physical health have to be prioritised equally.”

Mrs. Eshraghi believes that in Samoa mental health is being considered a secondary part of healthcare, when the whole world is moving in a different direction.

In Samoa, there is only one psychiatrist at the Mental Health Unit at the Ministry of Health and he also helps out at the Goshen Trust as well.

To mark World Mental Health Day, Goshen Trust has organised activities in the recreational area behind the clock tower from 10 am to 2 pm on Friday. There will also be a talanoa space to talk to individuals and groups on the issue of mental health together with free sausage sizzles, apples and water.