Nissan to lay off thousands of workers as sales drop    Trump picks Susan Wiles as White House chief of staff    Three charged in connection with Liam Payne's death    Israel passes law to deport relatives of attackers, including citizens    Monkey mayhem in South Carolina after 43 primates escape research facility    Russian anti-war teenager faces five years in jail after failed appeal    Uproar in Ghana after president unveils his own statue    BD and INS partner to elevate standards of infusion care in MENAT    Qassim emir launches 52 health projects costing a total of SR456 million    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    Fakeeh Care Group reports 9M-2024 net profit of SR195.3 million, up 49% y-o-y driven by solid revenue growth and robust profitability    GASTAT: Passengers of public transport bus and train soar 176% and 33% respectively in 2023    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Many Saudis have psychological problems
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 31 - 01 - 2014


Abdullah Dahlan
Al-Watan


Many families in Saudi Arabia live in a state of crisis because a member of the family is mentally ill. The number of Saudis with psychological problems has increased over the years despite government efforts to end this problem.
Four new psychiatric hospitals have been opened in the past two years and 12 more are currently under construction. However, these hospitals, together with the existing ones, are not enough to accommodate all of the mentally ill patients. The problem is that most efforts are focused on treating the disease rather than looking for its real cause. We will not be able to reduce the number of those who are mentally ill until we are able to deal with the causes of the disease.
Some medical reports attribute the causes to a lack of social justice and maltreatment in schools, universities, work places and society at large. However, the main cause of any psychological disturbance remains problems with the person's upbringing at home.
According to reports of the World Health Organization (WHO), about 20 percent of the population of some countries suffers from psychological problems. Other reports, however, indicate that this figure might be as high as 30 percent in some countries.
The treatment of the mentally ill costs huge sums of money. In the United States, for instance, the treatment of schizophrenia alone costs $50 billion annually.
In Saudi Arabia, those who are mentally ill suffer more because of the lack of sufficient government or private psychiatric hospitals. Some people leave psychologically ill male members of their families on the street or lock them in underground rooms or uninhabited houses. There are not enough psychiatrists, especially in small towns and villages. Even in big cities, there are not enough beds for mental patients. For this reason, people have resorted to purchasing medicine from pharmacies without having obtained a doctor's prescription. This illegal trade has actually become a flourishing business.
Schizophrenia usually strikes people by the age of 20. This is the age group which society depends on for its development. According to WHO medical reports, schizophrenia may also hit people under 40 while at work. This may cause them to make drastic decisions that may have an adverse effect on their work. Some of them may quit their jobs, only to become a burden on the government, society and their families.
Furthermore, about 75 percent of patients and 30 percent of doctors, do not know about the existence of the charter on patients' rights. Being ignorant of the rights of patients, doctors may tend to abuse and maltreat them. We should, therefore, have laws and the regulations that preserve the rights of the mentally ill and punish any doctor who dares to violate them.
The lack of primary healthcare at home and school and in the work place may have a drastic effect on society. We will continue to waste money unnecessarily on the treatment of the mentally ill if we do not address the causes of the illness. We should provide our youth with opportunities to work, ensure them of social justice, and carefully monitor the behavior of schoolteachers, of superiors toward their junior staff and the performance of psychiatrists.
The government must encourage the private sector to invest in the establishment of psychiatric hospitals. The government should pay for the treatment of mental and psychological patients in these private institutions.
Schools and universities have thousands of psychologically ill students, but nobody is aware of this fact. Even if the concerned officials are aware of this fact, they cannot do anything about it, as long as there are not enough hospitals for the treatment of those who are mentally ill. There are also many government employees who are psychologically ill. This is a disease which is attacking our men, women and children. Something has to be done about it.


Clic here to read the story from its source.