Monday, November 28, 2011

Surge in mental cases, disturbances


By: Azlan Othman

Minister of Health delivering his speech -
Picture by: Azlan Othman
Although there is no specific study being carried out to determine the frequency of mental disease in the local community in the sultanate, the mental disease and disturbances have shown a surge annually.
Statistics from new cases and follow-up treatment at RIPAS outpatient department have indicated that it surged from 3,889 in 2002 to 6,082 cases in 2010.

Mental health problems among children

By Azlan Othman

Prof. Dr Abang Benett Abang Taha
Head of Psychiatry Department, RIPAS Hospital
Picture: Azlan Othman


Data from the RIPAS hospital has shown that 429 children and teenagers have registered with the mental health clinic since 2005. But what we have seen is just the tip of the iceberg as many problems have been misinterpreted as discipline or other problems.

'No health without mental health'


Monday, November 28, 2011

Dr Ramli Hassan, Head of Ripas Hospital's Psychiatric Service Department, delivers his opening remarks during the World Mental Health Day 2011 Forum held at Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong on November 26.
Picture: BT/Yusri Adanan

"THERE is no health without mental health," Dr Ramli Hassan, psychiatric specialist and head of psychiatric services said during his welcoming speech at the World Mental Health Forum last Saturday.

"To care for mental health is as important as to care for physical health," Dr Ramli said.

"Mental illness constitutes a very big cost," he added, "not only in terms of the suffering endured by the mentally-ill patients, their families and friends, but also in terms of financial costs from lower individual productivity, costs of lifetime support for these patients and the yearly costs of treating and recovering these patients."