DOHA: Depression, anxiety and phobias are among the most common types of mental issues that are prevalent in Qatar, according to health experts.
Around 50 percent of them starting to manifest in children aged 14 years, says Dr Suhaila Ghuloum, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Head of the Academic Health System (AHS) Medical Board.
In this backdrop, an educational workshop aimed at raising awareness about mental health and dealing with mental issues among students and teenagers was held recently at 20 independent schools.
About 60 Teachers, social workers, psychologists, support teachers and school nurses took part in the workshop organised by HMC as part of an Academic Health System (AHS) initiative and in collaboration with HMC’s Psychiatry Department, the Supreme Education Council (SEC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC).
Dr Ghuloum explained that the aim of the workshop was to promote the concept of mental health in a school setting and enhance communication with students, as well as to highlight some common mental health issues relating to teenagers by identifying the proper ways of dealing with the issues and the most suitable time for referral. “Mental illness is a health problem which significantly interferes with an individual’s cognitive, emotional and social abilities and may, in most cases, lead to a reduced ability to function or cope with normal daily life activities. Early detection and intervention helps to achieve the best treatment outcomes,” said Dr Ghuloum.
Dr Hanan Derby, consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, specifically discussed depression, stating that 11 percent of adolescents are affected by the illness at varying levels of severity by the age of 18, particularly females. She added that not all adolescents seek the necessary help. The Peninsula
