World Mental Health Day dwells on depression, suicide

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

October 10 is “World Mental Health Day.” Health advocates have come up with guidelines on how to fight depression.

The advice of psychologist Dr. Sawsan Halawi of the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre and Child Early Intervention Medical Centre/Child Learning and Enrichment Medical Centre/Maharat Learning Centre founder/chief executive officer Dr Hiba Shata, become significant as for 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) has supported the call of three international non-government organisations (NGOs) to highlight preventive measures against suicide, one of the well-documented risk factors of which is depression.

The three NGOS are the World Federation for Mental Health, the International Association for Suicide Prevention, and the United for Global Mental Health.

There are two reasons for the theme “Working Together to Prevent Suicide—A Day for ’40 Seconds of Action” of the “World Mental Health Day 2019.”

One, “800,000 die of suicide each year; there are over 20 attempts to every suicide; and every 40 seconds, someone loses his life to suicide.”

Two, Sept. 10 has been designated as “World Suicide Prevention Day” in the past 15 years; there should be a continuity on raising awareness levels on suicide, everyone has to reach out to one another.

WHO 2018 Suicide Data had revealed the Top 11 countries with the highest suicide rates per 100,000 population.

These are Lithuania (32/100,000) with a total of 894 suicides; Russia (31), 45,178 suicides; Guyana (30), 227; Korea (27), 13,765; Belarus (26), 2,477; Suriname (22), 131; Kazakhstan (22), 4,122; Ukraine (22), 9,911; Latvia (21), 409; Lesotho (21), 447; and Belgium with the most liberal laws on doctor-assisted suicides (21), 2,377.

The UAE ranked 170 at three per 100,000 and a total of 270 recorded suicide deaths in 2018. 

Recent years have also seen a rise in teen suicides starting from age 15.

Meanwhile, in the research “Committed Suicide in the Background of the History of Previous Suicide Attempts—A Five-Year Prospective Study of Suicide Attempts” conducted in Krakow, Poland, 10—six men and four women—of the 238 patients hospitalized for “self-intoxification with medical drugs” eventually committed suicide.

Age range of the 238 was 17 to 79. They all underwent structured interviews and a series of psychological exams. 

The authors led by Katedra Toksykologi Kliniczney stated: “Majority of the suicide had been treated psychiatrically for depression or alcoholic addiction, had experienced parental or marital bereavement, or had serious financial difficulties. (Majority of them had history) of suicides among family members. Alcoholism and depression were the mental disturbances in men. The women (exhibited a variety of) psychological, psychiatric and socio-demographic factors that could lead to suicide.”

From Abu Dhabi, Halawi associated depression with the onslaught of diabetes, saying that while one in four adults with diabetes have significant symptoms of depression, a diagnosis of depression is reported less often.

“Estimates of depression in diabetics vary due to differing definitions of depression,” she added.

Halawi touched on Diabetes Distress, “a separate disorder from depression.”

She explained: “With this, patients feel overwhelmed by the burden of the condition and the need to continuously manage it. Patients also sometimes develop anxiety over what could happen if they do not manage their condition properly, worrying about the complications that could arise.”

Halawi’s advice: “You should speak to your doctor if you have had a low mood for two weeks or longer, accompanied by three or more of the following symptoms—loss of pleasure, change in sleep patterns, change in appetite, trouble concentrating, loss of energy, nervousness, guilt, morning madness or suicidal thoughts.”

In Dubai, Shata addressed depression with the parents in focus:

“Mentally healthy people know how to deal with issues in their lives in a positive and healthy manner. As a parent, it is important that we promote positive mental health.”