18% polulation suffers from mental illness
A study conducted by the Hamad Hospital in collaboration with the Qatar Foundation on mental illness in Qatar indicates that 18% of people suffer from depression.
This was stated at a conference on psychiatry held in Doha two days ago, according to reports appearing in the local Arabic press. Hamad Hospital’s Psychiatry Department had organised the event in co-operation with the Royal College of Psychiatry of the United Kingdom and the Qatar Foundation.
Addressing the conference, the head of the Psychiatry Department at the Hamad Hospital, Dr Suhayla Ghuloom said that by and large mental illnesses in the country can be traced to hereditary factors besides pressures one faces in one’s career.
However, the increase in psychiatric cases in recent years is mainly due to the significant increase in the population, she said.
Referring to the recent increase in the salaries of Qatari employees and the consequent euphoria, she said it will in no way contribute to a reduction in mental ailments.
The impact of this increase needs to be studied over a long period of time. Nothing can be said for the present.
“Large segments of our population are wary of seeking medical assistance for their near and dear ones who have psychiatric problems. Any talk of mental ailment is seen as a stigma. This has to be tackled in a bold and effective manner,” she said.
Setting up of hotlines for the public to interact with the department and training of doctors at the primary health centres on psychiatric treatment are among the proposals discussed at finalised at the conference.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=476886...
This interview was not worth publishing in the gulf times..
people have varying degrees of depression that doesn't mean they have mental illness. 18% is a very high figure which shouldn't be published if one is not very sure of the statistics and the methodology of arriving at it.
if mental illnesses of the people in qatar have genetic roots, do they know what exactly are they implying? moreover, we all know what amount of physical and mental work the qataris do at their work..do we have to believe this work pressure is causing mental depressions and anxiety..lol
Or yelling at your maids and drivers? Finding certain nationalities as pests rather than builders of the nations infrastructure and doing the work that one would hate to do themselves :)
The list can go on and on...
Britexpat you have never been the same since your Cuban shot putter left you Get well soon :)
As do many people actually. And its according to the degree of depression can a person actually be classed as "mentally ill".
My point exactly. There are varying degrees of depression. I have a colleague who is a manic depressent and is on constant medication. I too suffer from depression, but mainly anxiety.
Good point...perhaps we have an explanation to many of those dangerous drivers out there.. they are actually mentally ill!
Does this also contribute to bad driving practices ?
that determines how serious is the disease. That said its alarming how many young people are now being diagnosed with clinical depression. So much for childhood/teens being "happy go lucky" years. What with eating disorders, bullying, peer pressure etc kids are now developing stress related issues long before they reach adulthood. Sad!
rizks now its 19.1%;)
yes britexpat. it's now called bipolar disorder (formerly maniaco-depressive syndrome).
Should depression be categorised as mental illness ?
check the prison they will find more
Probably emotion sickness...
"Large segments of our population are wary of seeking medical assistance for their near and dear ones who have psychiatric problems. Any talk of mental ailment is seen as a stigma".
Looks like it is in respect of local people only not expats.
rapid fall of hairs from my head is making me 'Mental'...:(
tat counts as 19% now.....:(
Am I the only sane one here? ..:)
evident on QL ;)
Alot of depressed souls and psychos on the loose in QL.
"Nothing can be said for the present."
Then why do they say anything at all?
By the way, I think those 18% are users on QL!