President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has expressed confidence that the government's ongoing measures to strengthen mental health services will deliver lasting improvements, while stressing that sustained community support will be essential to achieving meaningful change.

The President made the remarks during the fifth episode of The Pulse podcast series, which focused on youth empowerment. The discussion highlighted the challenges affecting young people, including mental health and bullying, and outlined the Government's efforts to address them.

The President noted that bullying remains a significant issue among young people and said tackling it requires the collective efforts of the entire community. He highlighted growing public concern over recent incidents linked to bullying and said the Government has begun drafting anti-bullying legislation to strengthen legal protections and introduce tougher criminal penalties.

He explained that although existing laws address bullying in general terms, they do not clearly establish enforcement mechanisms. The proposed legislation is being developed in consultation with international experts and local stakeholders.

The President also emphasised that mental well-being is closely connected to many aspects of daily life and said the Government is continuing to implement initiatives aimed at ensuring young people receive the support they need to maintain good mental health.

He highlighted the expansion of mental health services, noting that treatment for mental health conditions is now covered under the Aasandha national health insurance scheme. He also said work is underway to establish a dedicated national mental health centre to improve access to specialised care.

The President said the Government is working with healthcare professionals and relevant institutions to further strengthen both short-term and long-term mental health services. He expressed confidence that the reforms being implemented would achieve the desired outcomes, while reiterating that lasting progress would depend on the active participation and support of the wider community.