There are several external factors that might push people toward developing serious mental illnesses.
These include a fear of consulting a psychiatrist right from the start as well as the social stigma against seeking such help.
This public attitude forces many people to hide their psychiatric disorders in the initial stage until their illnesses develop into something more serious, particularly depression, according to a report in Al-Riyadh Arabic daily.
Saudi housewife Ummu Osama Abdullah said difficult social conditions led her to depression.
She was afraid of consulting a psychiatrist even after displaying symptoms of depression such as bad moods, loss of interest, disturbed sleep and appetite, in addition to neglecting her family affairs.
“I could not make up my mind on whether to consult a psychiatrist mainly because I was worried about how my family and community would react, including my husband. My mental condition worsened to such a level that my husband told me to go to a psychiatrist. Honestly speaking, he is still unaware of the fact mental pressures caused by him are the reasons for my problems,” she said.
Ummu Osama said she is now mustering courage to consult a psychiatrist. “I think it is difficult to go to a mental clinic without others knowing,” she said.
Echoing the same feelings, Hasna Al-Ali, another Saudi woman, said society is putting more hurdles in front of women seeking treatment for possible mental illnesses.
She believes every member of society has some sort of psychiatric disorder. While stressing the need to change society’s attitude toward those suffering from such problems, Hasna told the story of a young Saudi man who was mentally ill.
“The young man wanted to consult a psychiatrist to treat his disorders but his family prevented him from doing so. His family members were afraid of society’s unsympathetic attitude toward them,” she said.
Hasna emphasized the need for increased awareness among society about mental illnesses.
“With the passing of every year, life becomes more and more complicated. The complex problems of modern life make many members of the society vulnerable to mental disorders. Therefore, it is necessary that psychiatrists are easily accessible,” she said.
She added that changing the attitudes of society to embrace psychiatrists as a necessity similar to doctors is essential.
Abeer Al-Asmari has a friend who was mentally ill but was scared of consulting a psychiatrist because of the social stigmas.
“She always prefers to stay at home and is hesitant to interact with her friends. Her behavior caused her to lose many friends. When I suggested to her family, especially her mother, to take her to a psychiatrist they refused, saying her problems could be mere hallucinations,” she said.
Dr. Hamoud bin Hazza Al-Sharif, a specialist in social psychology at Riyadh’s King Saud University, said that first of all it is important to change social attitudes toward mental illnesses. There should also be a differentiation between a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, he said.
“There should be increased public awareness of the positive role played by psychologists and psychiatrists in the society,” he said, while underlining the need for establishing a psychology society to help combat such stigmas and promote the field and its benefits for society.
