CAIRO: Sabry and his wife were engaged for a year before they decided to tie the knot. He complains that while some of her flaws seemed insignificant during their engagement, they are now taking a toll on their marriage. Seeking the help and advice of a psychiatrist could be the answer to their problems, says Sabry. However, his wife is uneasy about the idea, and refuses to seek professional help. The inhibitions of Sabry's wife are very common. Many people dismiss the idea of seeking the help of a psychiatrist either because they are indifferent about the idea, or because of the accompanying social stigmas. The scarcity of proper psychiatric channels aimed at addressing the public's needs continues to mold people's attitudes towards the issue. "There is a gap that definitely needs to be filled, said Dr Heba Issawi, assistant professor of psychiatry at Ain Shams University. "Our effort should target the majority of the young groups that suffer from problems ranging from drug addiction to problems at school, in the family and concerns about the future, added Issawi. "The unavailability of full-fledged centers and qualified specialists to look into people's problems presents a challenge, argued the psychiatrist. Psychiatrist Dr Magdy Rifae echoes Issawi's view and draws attention to the fact that social pressures induce chemical changes in the brain. "Most psychiatric maladies start as a social predicament, said Rifae, adding that social workers and psychiatrists should work closely together. The Ministry of Health set up a hotline (0-800-8880-700) to cater to mental health patients and people suffering from depression or others seeking counseling on various issues such as marriage, work, family and sex. Dr Mervat Sedqi, one of the psychiatric specialists in charge of the hotline that launched less than a year ago, says they received a lot of calls from different people seeking social counseling. "Regrettably, the number of calls has dramatically gone down, said Sedqi, explaining that the popularity of the hotline has faded because there was no strategy set to promote it. "Not so many people know about it and the number of billboards that promote it to the public is still limited, said Sedqi, adding that currently a plan is being adopted to promote the helpline among students through social workers in colleges and schools. "The helpline is not enough, said Dr Fathi El Sharqawi, professor of psychology and director of the psychiatric health center at Ain Shams University. He is calling for the creation of a strategy to spread psychiatric health all over the country. "I doubt that this hotline and other similar services will turn into full-fledged, reliable services, argued Sally Mahgub, a public relations executive. "This is because people's mindset here is more inclined towards religion.this is where they dig for all types of solutions. "Unfortunately, in the name of religion, people in some countries continue to resort to superstitions and sorcerers [to solve their problems]. Sherine Mahmoud, a marketing manager, said that ensuring confidentiality is the most important factor. "I remember how 'Akhr El Leil,' a radio program devoted to hearing the problems of couples and young people, was suspended. The officials argued that, in addition to tarnishing the image of society, the program made some people suspicious of their own relatives. Specialists said that despite the dominance of a religious culture, some do believe in the effects of psychiatry and social counseling, but many face financial obstacles. "We charge LE 20 at the university center compared to LE 150 charged by private clinics, said El Sharqawi. He believes that education, the media as well as social services should all play a part in improving people's attitudes towards seeking psychiatric help. "None of these can assume full responsibility, but the media's role is crucial in promoting psychiatric health. Also, sociology and psychology departments in all universities should set up their own psychiatric services, he added. "While we take this step, we should also address the problem of staffing these facilities, said Issawi.
