DOHA: With one in five people experiencing a mental health issue, Qatar will begin an initiative to raise awareness about mental health, coinciding with World Mental Health Day.
Mental illness is common across the world and research in Qatar estimates that one in five people experience a mental health issue. Mental illness can affect anyone at any stage of their life, and this has a significant impact on the individual, family and society. Experts encourage people to know the symptoms of mental illness and seek medical advice.
World Mental Health Day has special significance this year as it marks the beginning of a series of activities that will bring mental health on the top of the health agenda in Qatar.
“There is strong recognition in Qatar of the importance of mental health in enhancing our population’s health and well-being,” the Minister of Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani, said.
“Qatar’s public and private health service providers are united behind an integrated plan to promote mental health and increase access to quality services for the needy.
“This is further evidence of the National Health Strategy’s transformation of the health sector,” he said.
Good mental health is about people being able to make a positive contribution to their community and coping with the daily stresses of life.
“Mental health is a priority for all people — it affects everyone. It’s not just about illness; mental health is an essential component of everyone’s well-being. It is as important as physical health,” said Sheikh Mohammed Hamad Al Thani, Director of the Public Health at the SCH.
“We want to ensure that everyone in Qatar can reach and maintain the highest level of well-being and that’s why we want to raise awareness about mental health and promote healthy lifestyles.”
Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are global health issues, but many people are still not receiving the treatment and support they need.
Negative perceptions about mental illness and limited availability of services often cause people to delay or avoid seeking help.
“We want to encourage people who think they may have symptoms of a mental illness to seek advice from a health professional as soon as possible,” said Dr Suhaila Ghuloum, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Hamad Medical Corporation. “Effective treatments are available and early detection will ensure the greatest chance of recovery and restoring quality of life.”
The Psychiatry Department at the Hamad Medical Corporation has a workforce of clinicians who provide care for people with mental health issues.
Transformation of services is underway to give people more options for accessing mental healthcare, especially in community-based and primary care settings. The Peninsula
