Speak up: A call for help (Interview writing)

SPEAK UP, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO CALL FOR HELP!

Treatments are available, but nearly one-thirds of people in Pakistan with a known mental disorder seek help from a health professional. Remaining silent are fighting with their mental disorders by them-selves. Recently, the scrivener caught up with the professional psychologist, DR. Hira Hussain at Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS),Lahore and discussed the psychological issues and the treatment condition of mental health in Pakistan. Here is the excerpt of the interview:

" We see life at its best or its worst. At some point of life, everyone deals with depression or anxiety. some people seek medical help but most of them stay quiet during that time period which leads a path toward death, they end their pain by self harming or by ending their life!" said DR, Hira. she further explained, people stay silent because they think other people would make fun of them. so, they stop hanging out with their friends and even cut-off contact with their family members. They spend most of the time alone which affects their psych a lot and end up with one of the two conditions first is Schizophrenia and the other one is death. She explained the term Schizophrenia, "Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. this disorder causes hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking, behavior and disabling".

By answering the question about the current situation of mental health in Pakistan, she told us that there was a time period when people didn't want to consult their mental health with the expert or psychiatrist but now time's changed. People come to us to share their health issues and ask for medical help, most of the cases they deal with include depression, anxiety, stress, mental illness and suicides. further, she explained the causes and effects of mental health issues. she said, it didn't only happen because of psychological factors but it also involves the biological and social factors as well and it affects the social interaction, health, family and social life and emotional health of the person who is dealing with it.

"The symptoms of psychological disorder include mood changes, over thinking, eating disorder,excessive anger, hostility, violence, drug use, medicine addiction, change in behavior, tiredness, low energy, problems sleeping,excessive fears, worries and suicidal thoughts", said DR. Hussain.

She said suicidal rates have increased especially in youth, in which girls' attempts are called for help and few of them succeed in doing it. but, successful attempts are done by boys. further she discussed the medication cost of the treatment. DR. Hussain explained "it really depends on what type of disorder patients have, medication is not too expensive but in Pakistan some medication facilities are not available and when we export that medication it's costly".

At the end of the interview, DR. Hira Hussain said "parents need to focus on their children's mental health and have to make friendly relationships with them. Parents should listen to their children, so they'll be able to share their condition with their parents. one word to save the future is better than staying quiet and it is a serious issue now-a-day".