PEOPLE who battle severe depression should seek professional help to manage stress and prevent extreme acts such as suicide, said a leading clinical psychologist. It follows the suicide of Bahraini Badriya Ali, who died last week after pouring kerosene on her body and setting herself alight.
The 59-year-old was said to have been suffering from psychological problems. Such people need a strong support system at home to help them monitor their medication and manage daily life challenges to put them on the right road to recovery, said Al Dana Consultation Centre general manager and clinical psychologist Dr Banna Bu Zaboon.
She said lifestyle changes, stress and the breakdown of family unit can all contribute to the development of depression. However, it is important for those in stressful situations or jobs to take programmes that teach them how to manage and understand their stress to prevent becoming anxious.
It would also prevent people developing severe depression and related health problems. Dr Bu Zaboon, who conducts a five-day stress-related programme for institutions and companies, urged people to seek help from clinical psychologists to avoid depression and teach them self-reliance.
"Anyone can become depressed in their life and although they might not die they can lose interest in their life, family, health and job," said Dr Bu Zaboon. "We have a problem in our world, we don't recognise our feelings, so many patients feel restless and don't like to eat, but they don't realise they are having depression.
"We need people to identify how they are feeling. Some people think their problems are physical and will go to the doctor with back pain, restlessness, weight loss, unable to sleep and so on. "Some doctors will recognise that they are suffering from depression and refer them to a psychiatrist but some don't go.
"Depression can be hereditary and these people should take care. "If anyone feels they are becoming depressed they should seek medical attention quickly."According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) depression affects 121 million people worldwide and is among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
Severe depression affects five to 10 per cent of the global population, but almost all will experience feelings of depression at some point in their life. Dr Bu Zaboon said severe depression like other mental illnesses can lead to suicide if left untreated. She said medication combined with cognitive behavioural therapy was the best way to tackle severe depression.
Most people who commit suicide have not been taking their medication properly and are not receiving the care and support they need. "When you are very depressed you don't think properly and you can't control yourself and you think 'why live', someone like this is in severe pain, their coping system is zero and they can collapse in a minute," she explained.
"Anyone can feel for a moment that life is black but a normal person will quickly overcome these feelings, but a depressed person has a chemical imbalance in the brain and if they are not taking their medication properly and not going for psycho therapy it can be very dangerous for them. "Medication alone is not enough. They need cognitive behavioural therapy because it helps them think positively and to rely on themselves."
Dr Bu Zaboon said depressed people need a strong support system to regulate their medication to avoid a possible overdose. She said therapy might be necessary for the family of a depressed person as they were also affected by this condition.
"It's not easy to live with a severely depressed person, it affects the whole family because they become like a child and need to be looked after all the time," she said. "They need someone to take them to their appointments and make sure they take their medication and receive cognitive behavioural therapy.
"Families need to support patients who are severely depressed because they may try to end their lives, they can't feel happy, can't smile or taste their food."Following Ms Ali's suicide, Psychiatric Hospital chairman Dr Adel Al Offi said citizens and residents with psychological problems could receive free treatment at the Psychiatric Hospital in Salmaniya.
He said there was also a 24-hour Health Ministry hotline (39425525) for people suffering from psychological problems, but more needed to be done by civil societies, organisations and the ministry to support people with mental problems.