The Ministry of Health aims to enhance its collaboration with mental health service providers Goshen Trust by the proposed employment of certain personnel currently working for the non-governmental organisation. 

This confirmation came from Aiono Professor Alec Ekeroma, the Director General of Health, during an exclusive interview with the Samoa Observer newspaper.

Aiono said they have already proposed to the Public Service Commission as they consider the service and work of Goshen Trust very important, especially in looking after individuals with mental health conditions. 

He also noted that the support and partnership with Goshen Trust is very crucial, particularly in looking after patients who are not at the hospital but out in the community. 

"We have proposed P.S.C. if they can employ most of the Goshen staff, in that way they can report to us and we can have some control over the patients that are out in the community under their care. 

"There's quite a few of them you see roaming around town. They need care, they need medications, but they are harmless. They can be a nuisance when they start begging outside the shops, but they still need care. 

"That's the section of our population that needs the support."

In commemoration of World Health Day this year in October, Goshen Trust appealed to the Government for more support for the service they are 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 a previous interview with the Samoa Observer, 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 a 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 getting,” she said. “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.”