AKP Phnom Penh, May 13, 2026—
Cambodia has officially launched a high-level national leadership training programme aimed at integrating mental health services into the heart of its primary care system.
Officiated by Minister of Health H.E. Professor Chheang Ra, the Public Mental Health Leadership Training Workshop in Phnom Penh on Wednesday gathered 182 key participants, including ministry officials, representatives from WHO Cambodia, and mental health experts from the WHO Western Pacific Region.
The initiative directly tackles the growing global and regional burden of mental health disorders. Its goals are threefold: assess Cambodia’s current service capacity, build a robust framework for inter-sectoral coordination, and weave mental health care into the fabric of everyday medical services.
In a powerful keynote address, H.E. Professor Chheang Ra challenged conventional notions of leadership.
“Strong leadership is not only about power and decision-making; it is about mental balance, resilience, compassion, and the ability to support others during difficult times,” he stated. “Good leadership starts with mental clarity.”
The Minister warned leaders against the dangers of “burnout, conflict, and isolation,” urging them to prioritise active communication and continuous professional growth. His message was clear: resilient leaders build resilient institutions, which in turn deliver superior healthcare.
To ensure long-term, ground-level impact, the Minister issued binding directives to all provincial health departments and hospitals:
Mental health must be treated as routine healthcare, fully embedded into primary health services; Leadership principles focused on mental well-being should be incorporated into all public health programmes; Training must be scaled at every level to diversify and strengthen the nation’s mental health workforce.
The Minister expressed deep gratitude to the World Health Organisation and its Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, for selecting Cambodia as the 10th country to join the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health. This partnership is designed to transform mental health policies and care from the ground up, marking a pivotal step in the Kingdom’s journey toward holistic, resilient healthcare for all.

By K. Rithy Reak