Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, stressed the importance of changing society’s culture towards mental disorders and illnesses, and looking at the mental health of citizens in a more in-depth manner, to ensure proactive prevention of many mental illnesses.
This came during the dialogue session witnessed by the Minister under the title “Psychological awareness of mental health is a shared responsibility,” on the sidelines of the World Conference on Health, Population and Development 2023, held in the New Administrative Capital from September 5 to 8, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The session was attended by Dr. Naima Al-Qassir, representative of the World Health Organization in Egypt, with the participation of Ambassador Nabila Makram, founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fahim Foundation for Psychological Support, Dr. Abdel Nasser Omar, Professor of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fahim Foundation for Psychological Support, and Bishop Mikhail, The General Bishop and Rapporteur of the Synodal Committee for Mental Health and Combating Addiction at the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Dr. Osama Al-Hadidi, Director General of the Al-Azhar International Center for Electronic Fatwa in the Sheikhdom of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.
During his speech, the Minister stressed the importance of the session, as its objectives are in line with the Ministry’s interests in the field of mental health, pointing out that we cannot reach healthy people without paying attention to their mental health, and achieving the three pillars of human health (physical health, community health, and mental health). .
• Developing medical facilities and establishing new ones
The Minister explained that the Ministry is working to expand the establishment of many medical facilities concerned with providing psychiatric services (counseling, treatment), as well as developing existing facilities, and expanding the provision of specialized medical personnel in this regard, in a way that ensures that services are provided to those concerned in an easy manner, especially for those who are unable. , ensuring access to a healthy society.
He stressed that the National Council for Mental Health includes representatives of all relevant sectors in Egypt, to work on solving all psychological issues in society, pointing out the importance of submitting recommendations for the session and presenting them to the Council to quickly take decisions and appropriate measures to implement them, in a way that ensures the promotion of citizens’ mental health.
The Minister explained that the Ministry of Health and Population places mental health at its top priority, as mental health services have been included among the services provided in primary health care units in the governorates, in addition to being included in the examinations for the initiative to examine those approaching marriage.
• Accurate understanding of mental disorders and comparison between disease and symptom
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the session discussed the accurate understanding of mental disorders and the comparison between disease and symptom, and the importance of creating sufficient awareness among the patient and his family about these diseases and how to deal with them, pointing out that the session aims to change concepts about mental illness and break the stigma. Mental illnesses within society.
Abdul Ghaffar continued that the dialogue session discussed the importance of strengthening cooperation between psychological support institutions with their various affiliations and religious institutions, which is considered an essential element and the strongest awareness mechanisms through clerics, ensuring support for the effort made through the General Secretariat of Mental Health, which constantly interacts with citizens to provide The necessary counseling and psychological treatment for them, especially through the hotline.
He stated that the session discussed methods and mechanisms for identifying mental illness, especially in children, the correct ways to deal with it, and increasing the level of awareness among them and among parents, especially mothers, as she is the first person who can notice any psychological changes that may occur in children.
Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that the dialogue session included coming up with a number of recommendations; (Enhancing joint efforts between all concerned parties and civil society organizations, in order to achieve fruitful cooperation to ensure the achievement of mental health security for citizens, as well as concluding cooperation protocols between the “Fahim” Foundation, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and the Egyptian Church, to in turn complete the work with the cooperation protocols that were signed between the Foundation and the Ministry of Health. And the population, to ensure support for psychological services provided to the public, especially those who are unable, as well as developing an integrated action plan linked to a specific period of time to work on it and implement all its provisions aimed at improving the mental health of citizens.
2023-09-08 15:47:24
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