Depression is the most common mental disorder in the country and its prevalence is around 19 percent among Qataris according to the available data, says an expert.
Its more common among women than men due to biological, hormonal and social reasons. However, prevalence of depression and anxiety in Qatar is similar to other countries in the world, says Dr Suhaila Ghuloum, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
In October 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO), launched a one-year campaign to ensure that maximum people with depression, in all countries, seek and get help. And today (April 7) the 2017 World Health Day is marked with the theme ‘Depression: Let’s Talk,’ as talking about it can be the first step towards recovery.
Depression causes mental anguish and impacts on people’s ability to carry out even the simplest daily tasks, with sometimes devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends and ability to earn a living. At worst, depression can lead to suicide,
But depression can be prevented and treated. A better understanding of what depression is, and how it can be prevented and treated, will help reduce the stigma associated with it, and lead to more people seeking help, says Dr Ghuloum.
“Stigma around depression is an international phenomena. But many countries have awareness at least for the most prevalent disorders, we don’t have much, although we have seen an improvement, especially among younger generation,” she told The Peninsula.
“We need to understand that depression is a biological illness. Like for any other illness depression also has treatment and early intervention gives a better outcome,” she added.
Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, loss of interest in daily activities, appetite or weight changes, sleep changes, anger or irritability, loss of energy, strong feelings of worthlessness, reckless behaviour and concentration problems are known as symptoms of depression.
“If somebody has genetic reasons, then people are at higher risk of having depression. Then there are certain types of depression with women due to biological reasons such as menopause, pre-menstrual period, post paternal postnatal depression. There are also secondary reasons as people going through certain trauma or stress they become depressed. Depression among older people is often associated with physical conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic pain,” said Dr Ghuloum.
“However, depression has become a very colloquial word to describe everything like being bit down on one day it, but that’s not depression. To feel stressed for a couple of days is normal human reaction, to feel tension because you are going through some deadlines of work , family issues are all normal. We don’t want to medicalise normal human reactions. But symptoms of depression should be present in person for at least two weeks for clinical dignosis,” she added.
