Paulina Quintao – A lack of mental health professionals is making it difficult for Timorese mental health patients to access care.

Commission F (education, health, culture, veterans' affairs and gender equality) president Virgilio da Costa Hornai said the mental health treatment available in Timor-Leste was insufficient, and that mental health patients deserved better.

Hornai said addressing the human resources shortfall as the responsibility of the government which must not wait on non-government organizations to fix the problem.

Psychosocial Recovery and Development in East Timor (PRADET) mental illness assistance program co-ordinator Anibal Idalino said its work was supported by Portuguese and Timorese mental health workers. There was only one specialist mental health worker employed at the National Hospital, he said.

In the districts, general practitioners were often called on to provide assistance to those suffering from mental illnesses, using guides provided by the Ministry of Health. Women's Communication Forum (FOKUPERS) shelter co-ordinator Judit Ribeiro said her organization provided counselling to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

She said all stakeholders were keen for mental health professionals to work in shelters to provide assistance to sufferer.,

"Currently we don't have any mental health workers because East Timor-Leste doesn't have university courses dealing with psychology and psychiatry," she said.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/12956-mental-health-care-shambles