Solidarity Minister: 10% of the world’s population suffer from mental disorders

Nevin Al-Kabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity, said that 10% of the world’s population suffers from mental disorders, and the World Health Organization describes depression as one of the main causes of disability in the world, noting that 40% of them suffer from apparent or silent depression.

Al-Qabbaj explained, during her speech at the inauguration of Ambassador Nabila Makram, the former Minister of Immigration, of her “Fahim” foundation for psychological support, that less than two dollars per person is spent on mental health annually in low-income countries, and that more than 50% of people with mental illness do not receive help. in treating their disorders, due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihoods.

The Minister of Solidarity added that psychological and mental health is part of public health and quality of life, noting that family and community support is the first path to treatment, and early detection and intervention helps to improve treatment opportunities by 80% to 90%, in addition to positive education and detection of any disorder in Early age reduces the chances of a child developing a disease later in life.

She emphasized that societal recognition and public awareness of mental illness and the provision of rehabilitation and treatment services for its sufferer is a feature of civilized nations, and that mental health and psychological safety is a human right.

And she continued that mental health, according to the World Health Organization, includes psychological wellness, which is the development of the individual’s competence and maximizing his intellectual, emotional and practical capabilities and potentials. person for himself and his family.

The Minister of Solidarity indicated that psychological and mental health leads to behavioral health, and building normal relationships, whether at the emotional, family or societal level, especially in light of the complex relationships that we see growing day after day in light of the era of modernity and postmodernism in an era dominated by individualism and autism with oneself. More than integration with the family and society, especially since the percentage of education and the realization of the mind has increased in proportions that are not compatible with spiritual, emotional and psychological development, as mental health is not only an individual issue, but rather an issue of family stability, community security, upbringing and education, and a public health issue And quality of life, and also an economic issue.

She added that the average age of those who suffer psychologically is less than 20 years for men and 15 years for women, and that those with mental and mental illnesses find it difficult to continue education and find lucrative employment opportunities, which leads to poor equal opportunities and lack of social justice, and more than 700,000 people commit suicide every year.

She stressed that all mental illnesses need specialized care and psychological and medical treatment according to the type of disorder and degree, whether simple, medium or severe, and according to scientific standards, because diseases are not standardized and differ from one person to another.

The Minister of Solidarity referred to the role of soft power in society, such as cinema, drama, theater and culture, in changing the wrong stereotype about mental patients, and their responsibility now is to raise awareness of mental illness and the importance of accepting mental patients and encouraging them to seek help and treatment.