Understanding stigma of mental health awareness

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Report by Zahra Ayaz

Every year during the month of May, Bahrain participates in a nationwide effort to address the stigma and spread awareness about mental health.

Mental health is as important as our physical health, visiting the psychiatrist would be the last thing you reward yourself with when you feel stressed out.

Whether or not someone personally suffers from a mental health issue, Mental Health Awareness Month helps people recognise the way mental illness impacts their lives, educates people about available services, and highlights ways to advocate.

To increase citizens’ awareness of the significance of mental health, many psychological specialists and consultants from the Kingdom spoke to The Daily Tribune.

Psychiatrist Dr Hamda Alnashmi at Bahrain Specialist Hospital, said: “I’ve seen people who lost their jobs and their marriages due to delay in seeking help, either out of fear of being stigmatised or because they mistakenly believed that their traits were ingrained in them from birth.

“In addition to being multifactorial, mental illness can also be brought on by chronic medical conditions like obesity, diabetes, cancer, strokes, and alcohol abuse.

The solution is simply to choose a psychiatrist who would understand you and guide you through your journey of healing.”

Dr Noor Yasser, a clinical administrator for special needs at American Mission Hospital, said: “Let’s bring more awareness to not only mental health for adults but for children too, more and more children are being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, as well as alarming rates of suicide.

“We need to be able to openly talk about mental health and well-being and break stigmas in society about seeking help, there is no shame in being vulnerable and asking for support.”

Dr Sama Gouda, a consultant neurosurgeon at Middle East Hospital, said: “Simply giving someone space to talk and listening to how they’re feeling, can be helpful in itself.

If they’re finding it difficult, let them know that you’re there when they are ready.

“Seeking help can feel lonely, and sometimes scary. You can reassure someone by letting them know that they are not alone and that you will be there to help. “If possible, take time each day to be with your family and friends, for example, try arranging a fixed time to eat dinner together.”