The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) is an MOH’s entity established in July 2014 by the Royal Government of Cambodia. DMSA is the General Directorate for Health of Ministry of Health (MOH) and has 3 key program conponents: (1) Mental Health (2) Substance Abuse and (3) Harm Reduction.

DMHSA plays important role in policy advocacy, guidelines development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of mental health and substance abuse services across the country and enable mental health and substance abuse services development within the available resources in health facilities and community.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse service is a part of primary health care system and intergrated into health service delivery through MPA available at the primary level (Referral Hospitals & Health Centers). Regular training of primary care providers is carried out in the field of mental health and substance abuse and gradually a number of trained mental healh care providers and services have been developed. Despite this, it is widely acknowledged that the treatment gap remains wide for people with mental disorders in Cambodia.

Cambodia Ministry of Health (MOH) has committed and integrated the mental health strategic plan into the Health Strategic Plan 2008-2015 (HSP2) and the Health Strategic Plan 2016-2020 (HSP3). However, the health system continues to be a challenge for developing the necessary infrastructure and human resources to provide basic minimum mental health care which is compounded by the prevailing cultural belief and stigma over mental health and substance abuse disorders (MHSADs).

Integrating mental health and substance abuse services into primary health care services through minimum package of activities (MPA) at health center and complementary package of activities (CPA) at referral hospital is an opportunity to meet the needs and rights of persons with mental health and substance abuse disorders (PWMHSADs) in Cambodia.