Remove mental illness stigma
A developed mental health sector will raise awareness and get the community engaged
The stigma attached to mental health issues persists around the world. Many still find it hard to talk about their condition with their doctor, let alone discuss them in public. This is why we need to continue to work on creating an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up and seeking professional support. This week, The National told stories of patients whose mental health issues affected their lives; they bravely chose to share their experiences. The case of Rashed Al Hammadi, for example, highlighted important gaps in the mental health system in the UAE. The 22-year-old had to stop his treatment because of the high cost of each session with a psychiatrist and medication, and the lack of facilities close to his home in Sharjah.
He is not alone. The shortage of psychiatric and rehabilitation services in both the public and private sectors, according to doctors, is preventing many patients from getting the treatment they need. As The National reported yesterday, experts say more facilities across the country and better community support are needed. While there are some services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, these services can be absent in other emirates.
It is already hard for patients to take the decision to talk about their conditions, and the difficult access to mental health care in addition to insufficient insurance coverage can make it even harder. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Abdulnaser Arida, who works at Abu Dhabi’s only specialised private psychiatric centre, the American Centre of Psychiatry and Neurology, said that easy access to care is critical in tackling the stigma.
A developed mental health sector will help normalise mental illnesses by increasing the level of awareness, which, in turn, will lead to better community engagement. The story of 34-year-old Sarah Al Senaani illustrated how important it is for patients to get the support they need because it’s easy to isolate oneself out of embarrassment or fear. Only when people are as comfortable seeing a psychiatrist as they are seeing a doctor for a physical ailment will we be able to uncover mental illnesses and treat them.