Spiritual well-being achievable- SEARO Regional Advisor

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Regional Workshop on Promotion of Mental Well-being organised by the WHO Regional Office for South East Asia (SEARO) is now in progress at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo with the participation of nearly 150 delegates from 10 countries. Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva inaugurated this four-day workshop which is the first ever one organised by the WHO on the spiritual side of mental health.

Addressing a press briefing held in Colombo yesterday SEARO Mental Health Regional Advisor Dr.Vijay Chandra said that spiritual well-being is something achievable and it is not an impossible target to achieve. Other countries are now adopting the Asian region's concepts on spiritual well-being.

All religions teach about spiritual well-being. Spiritual well-being of human beings creates a harmonious world. This is a new subject for the WHO and the workshop is the foundation for a long journey towards achieving the spiritual well-being of people.

WHO Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Firdosi Rustom Mehta said that Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva is a champion in the health sector who achieved several goals in the health sector and his Ministry is now focusing on introducing mental health to the primary health care system.

Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry Secretary Dr.Athula Kahandaliyanage said that holding the regional workshop on promotion of mental well-being in Sri Lanka at this time is very significant because Sri Lanka has commenced rebuilding the human lives spiritual and materially after a 30 years of terrorism.

The Sri Lankan Government has already taken steps to address the mental health problems of the IDPs.