He noted that in low- and middle-income countries, this figure ranges from 1 to 2 percent, while in developed countries it can reach 5-10 percent or more.
“Does this mean that the mental health of citizens in France, Italy, or Spain is 100 times more important than that of Kyrgyz people? This is wrong. People in Kyrgyzstan also deserve adequate support in mental health issues,” Boris Li commented on the situation.
According to him, there is a shortage of mental health specialists in the country. According to data from the World Health Organization for 2025, there are about 11 psychiatrists per 100,000 population in Kyrgyzstan. This is slightly above the global average of 9, however, in Europe this figure ranges from 40 to 60 specialists per 100,000 population, and in wealthier countries exceeds 100.
On the topic The number of patients with mental disorders in Kyrgyzstan is growing every year
The head of the primary healthcare department, Nurgul Ibraeva, also confirmed that low salaries for psychiatrists contribute to their decreasing numbers. “Salary is a key factor in retaining specialists. That is why incentives are provided for multidisciplinary teams, which include a family doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, and visiting nurse,” she added.
The briefing also mentioned that the government of Kyrgyzstan approved a Mental Health Protection Program in 2018, which is set to run until 2030. Work on implementing this program is already underway.
