DOHA: Awareness of scientific explanations for mental health problems can help de-stigmatise mental illness in the community, according to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Senior Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Suhaila Ghuloum.
“There is significant literature that provides scientific evidence to suggest there are biological factors implicated in illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and raising awareness may go some way towards removing the stigma associated with these and other mental illnesses in Qatar,” Dr Ghuloum told the Qatar International Psychiatry Conference recently.
“Understanding that there could be a scientific explanation for someone’s illness and that it is not something that is inexplicable or scary can help demystify the illness for people and generate empathy for the person affected and their family,” she added.
The conference, which focused on the science behind psychiatry and latest developments in the field, was hosted by HMC’s Psychiatry Department, and included guest speakers from the UK, the US, Australia, and Europe, who spoke on scientific rationalizations related to mental health topics, including schizophrenia, depression and hallucinations; novel approaches to their treatments; and the role genetics play in mental illnesses.
In its fourth year, the conference has become an important professional development opportunity for mental healthcare professionals, according to Dr Ghuloum.
Several hundred participants from Qatar and the region were welcomed to the conference by Prof. Peter Woodruff, Chairman, Psychiatry Department, in an opening address.
“The conference highlights the science that underpins clinical practice and provides updates on latest developments in the rapidly developing fields of neuroscience, genetics, behavioural and clinical science and therapeutics,” he said.
“Mental health has become a prominent healthcare topic in Qatar following the introduction of the Supreme Council of Health’s Mental Health Strategy in 2013, and dialogues such as the conference are important in further developing industry practices in the country by creating a platform for experts to share knowledge and experiences,” added Prof. Woodruff.
Experts at the conference included scientists, researchers, clinical psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
Many topics were on common global mental health issues, though several presentations focused on the Gulf.
Over 20 research abstracts were on display throughout the conference, highlighting local and regional studies.
The Peninsula
