Labasa Hospital currently has no resident mental health specialist, a gap that Macuata sub‑divisional medical officer Dr Amoo Bolaji warned is undermining care for chronic illnesses in the North. Dr Bolaji raised the concern during a workshop on non‑communicable diseases at the Friendly North Inn, saying the last specialist left “a few years ago” and has not been replaced.
Dr Bolaji stressed that mental health must be treated as integral to the management of long‑term conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. “You cannot talk about hypertension, diabetes or any chronic illness without talking about mental health,” he said. He warned that unaddressed stress and psychological strain directly affect how people eat, whether they take medication as prescribed and ultimately how they live their lives.
While some mental health support is available through non‑governmental organisations and other services, Dr Bolaji said these resources are underutilised. “People are reluctant to come forward. There is still stigma attached to seeking help,” he said. In closely knit communities like those in the Northern Division, worries about privacy and being seen seeking care further discourage people from accessing confidential services, he added.
Dr Bolaji highlighted a common failure to recognise the health impact of everyday pressures. “People go through work pressures, family responsibilities and financial strain every day, but they don’t take time to address it,” he said. Instead of seeking professional help, he warned, many turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. “They may rely on alcohol, kava or simply withdraw, thinking they are managing, but it often makes things worse.”
The absence of a permanent mental health specialist in Labasa leaves health workers relying on intermittent outreach, referrals to other centres, or non‑clinical community supports, complicating efforts to provide coordinated, holistic care for patients with multiple needs. Dr Bolaji’s comments come as mental health has increasingly become a topic of public concern in Fiji, including in legal and community settings where psychiatric assessments have played a prominent role in recent high‑profile cases.
At the workshop, Dr Bolaji urged that responses to non‑communicable diseases include mental health screening and support as standard practice rather than as an afterthought. Integrating psychological care into routine NCD clinics, improving public awareness about confidential services, and addressing stigma were among the issues he identified as priorities for health planners and community leaders in the Northern Division.
With the North lacking a resident specialist for several years, Dr Bolaji’s warning underlines immediate gaps in clinical capacity and community outreach. Replacing the specialist post and strengthening links with NGO providers, he suggested, would be necessary steps to ensure people living with chronic conditions receive comprehensive care that addresses both physical and mental wellbeing.
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