The PHCC urges more focus on mental health issues

Doha: A new report from the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) urges more focus on mental health in light of the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, as human societies and their members confront a number of difficulties and anxieties, as well as psychological pressures.

An expert psychologist at the PHCC, Majd Al Shami, confirmed that in the coming months and years, there will be a significant increase in the need for mental health support. He explained that investment in mental health programmes at the national and international levels is increasing and becoming more important than ever before.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Al Shami saw a rise in psychological illnesses, citing social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder as the most prevalent. This shows that social anxiety is a widespread psychological condition, affecting 13% of the population in Western research.

Among the psychological symptoms is avoidance of situations and fear of others’ negative evaluations of the person or their behaviour while their physical symptoms are increased heart rate, rapid and shallow breathing and sweating, tremor in hands, feet or whole body and red or yellowing of the face, dry throat, dizziness, lack of concentration and forgetfulness.

she added that maintaining physical health and disease prevention is important for mental well-being as well, and that treatment for OCD depends on the severity of the symptoms and the length of time they persist and is carried out through drug therapy to control the brain’s chemical neurotransmitters as well as cognitive behaviour.