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Salma: Do you think our lack of cultural understanding of the issue can help increase the issue?
Hazem: when i first started my studies, i was very surprised to find that patients are more responsive to culture’s influence far more than professional help, which means that having a supporting friend or parents is key in the treatment. So imagine living in a household that just does not recognize mental illness as a serious issue or blame the patient for his or her pain! So to answer your question, of course the cultural understanding is crucial. Unfortunately, many patients who were already diagnosed with disorders refuse to come to group therapies or even continue taking their medications privately out of fear that someone might find out and treat them differently
Salma: Anything you want to add?
Hazem: Yes, my last comment has to be on the treatment facilities here in Egypt. The public facilities is as you might see online treated as a mad-house where they put people there to drive them to a breaking point not inspire their self-love and encourage their improvement. And the private ones are very very expensive that you’d at least have to pay 40 or 50 grands for a short stay even.
Salma: Thank you Hazem!
Hazem: Thank you for having me, it was a pleasure.