The National Mental Health Helpline (1677), managed by the National Mental Health Department within the Ministry of Health, is currently unavailable because of a technical problem.

The department announced on Monday that it is presently unable to take calls through the helpline and is striving to fix the issue promptly.

The department encourages anyone facing a mental health crisis or situations posing an immediate risk of harm to contact 911 and obtain immediate help.

The department expressed regret for the disruption and indicated that actions are being taken to reinstate the service. After the helpline restarts, the department will contact those who sought help during the pause, based on the circumstances.

The 1677 helpline was initiated on February 21, 2024, providing 24-hour mental health assistance across the country.

The need for mental health services in the Maldives has been increasing. On May 23, Health Minister Geela Ali reported that over 70,000 individuals had requested assistance from mental health professionals in the last three years, with the majority being from the Male' area. She mentioned that the helpline had more than 10,000 calls in the previous year.

Police records indicate a significant increase in mental health crises this year, with suicide attempts having tripled from March to May.