On World Mental Health Day yesterday, Tonga launched a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) program.

Ministry of Health CEO, Dr. Reynold 'Ofanoa said this program is the beginning of a crucial journey to improve mental health and psychosocial support services in Tonga.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, working together, launched the new MHPSS program on 10 October, at Falemasiva Hall, Tailulu College, in Havelu.

The project, supported by UNICEF, will have an initial focus on the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents in the aftermath of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai eruption and tsunamis

Starting in December the proram will be based in villages that were heavily impacted by the HTHH events. It aims to collect information on the aftermath of the event on communities, including various schools in Tongatapu, ‘Eua, and Ha’apai.

The MHPSS program is an outcome of a UNICEF Regional Child Protection orientation and design workshop that was held in Fiji, in November last year, where six countries participated, including Tonga.

UNICEF representative Ms. Miatta A. Clark siad Tonga was the first country to have completed a work plan from the workshop, thus launching it today.

"The mental health of children and adolescents is one of the world's most neglected health issues," she said.

Ms. Clark believed this was a significant step for Tonga, in improving mental wellbeing, especially for children.

The launch event also marked the commemoration of the World Mental Health Day, with the theme: 'It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’.