Episode 1: Let’s hear from the first clinical psychologist in the Maldives – Dr. Naaz

In this episode Dr. Naaz, tells her story as what it is like to work in the profession as the first clinical psychologist. She speaks about her journey in establishing the first mental health clinic.

Highlights

00:16 – It’s been quite a journey coming as a first clinical psychologist to a country, where
people were not aware of the workings or what/ who is a clinical psychologist.

02:50 – when you come as the first clinical psychologist and people interact with you the way
they understand what is the need or what is the working of a mental health professional.
Challenges were so many because you are somehow put in a position you have to do
many things which you may not do in another society.

04:33 – I started the first mental health clinical which itself was a journey.
I went from place to place saying I need place to establish a clinic and they say “you don’t need a clinic, you don’t prescribe medication, so you can’t have a clinic”

06:13 – the first day I took fees, people say, oh, you are just talking so how could we pay you
fees? That concept was not there.

10:40 – we need know that every island of our country there is a need for a psychologist.
They are begging for the psychologist to come and help.
Entering into an island is entering into a nation. That person must have ground
knowledge about how does this community work…getting the experience and exposure is very important.

12:58 – we officially need the ethical framework very clearly define for our country.
I think that is the next step…

15:45 – there is so much of stigma for those with mental health issues, so many
challenges in our clients or patients going to the treatment pathways. You know excess to
treatments, understanding what this is. And also coordinating and cooperating with the
traditional systems, it still exists… we cannot be rivals