Tribune News Network
Doha
DEPRESSION and anxiety account for 17.5 percent of mental health disorders diagnosed in Qatar, but a mental health specialist at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) says up to 80 percent of patients are able to recover with treatment. According to Dr Mohamed Ali Siddig Ahmed, director of HMC's Community Mental Health Services, most patients diagnosed with depression and anxiety are classified as mild to moderate cases. He says around 20 percent of patients are diagnosed with severe depression and notes that those between the ages of 30 to 40 are most at risk of severe depression and anxiety.
"Anxiety and depression can affect anyone, at any time and can affect different people in different ways. Just like a physical illness, mental illness can be treated. Mental illnesses are manageable conditions and recovery is possible. As with physical health conditions, early diagnosis and support are key to successfully treating mental illness," said Dr Ahmed.
While HMC is the main provider of specialist mental healthcare in Qatar, the healthcare provider works alongside Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and private sector clinics and hospitals to deliver mental health care in a variety of settings, according to the needs of individual patients.
"Primary healthcare physicians are trained to treat some forms of mental illnesses and many patients with depression and anxiety are effectively treated at PHCC health centres. HMC and the PHCC work together closely to ensure patients receive the right care. It is an integrated service and we work together to diagnose and treat patients with mental health disorders," said Dr Ahmed.
Dr Fatema Musa, head of the Mental Health Program at PHCC, said that mental health services are available across all PHCC health centres.
"At PHCC, we have ensured that common mental illnesses are identified and treated as a routine part of our clinical practice," said Dr Musa.
Two years ago, HMC opened a community-based mental health facility in Muaither which provides specialist outpatient and inpatient mental health services. The facility works alongside HMC's existing hospital-based services and receives patients referred from the ten PHCC health centres located in the western region.
According to Dr Ahmed, to date around 1,200 patients have been cared for at the facility in Muaither and half of those were treated for depression and anxiety. Dr Ahmed noted that patients referred from PHCC health centres in the southern region, including the facilities in Al Wakra, Al Thumama and the airport area, are cared for by the mental health service at Al Wakra Hospital.
Dr Ahmed noted that many patients with mental illness remain underserved, in part because of the stigma associated with seeking help.
One of the aims of the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 is increased community awareness about mental health illness and services. Speaking about the significance of the strategy and its focus on mental health and wellbeing, Iain Tulley, National Health Strategy lead for mental health and wellbeing and CEO of Mental Health at HMC, said it is essential to consider physical and mental health together.
"One in four of us will suffer from a mental health condition at some point in our life. Failure to address this can impact negatively on our physical health," said Tulley.
Conversely, he said, many people with physical health conditions like diabetes and heart disease suffer from anxiety and depression, which can impact further on their wellbeing.
Dr Suhaila Ghuloum, senior consultant for HMC's Mental Health Service, said the misconception that depression and anxiety are trivial issues or issues to be ashamed of, leads many people not to seek the necessary help.