24 Psychologists to be Appointed

As per revealing made by the World Health Organization (WHO), ”between 5 and 10 per cent of people in Sri Lanka are known to suffer from mental disorders that require clinical intervention. Nearly 70 per cent of patients seen in clinical practice are diagnosed with psychosis or mood disorders”.

According to National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) data, 11,723 outpatient department (OPD) patients arrived for assistance in 2014 and 83 per cent were admitted. Out of the patients who were admitted, 2,591 patients urgently required psychiatric and intensive care.

In view of the above facts, the Ministry of Health is preparing to recruit 24 psychologists for 24 districts after the Public Service Commission (PSC) approves recruitment, Health Ministry Director for Mental Health, Dr. Chitramali de Silva said.