(MENAFN- Jordan Times) AMMAN — Striving to combat prejudices and discrimination against people suffering from mental illnesses, a group of Jordanians launched "Nafsyeh", a series of informative videos that seek to raise awareness on mental health in Jordan.
Started about a month ago by Global Shapers Amman Hub, the channel has already drawn widespread public reactions, with a number of viewers commending a "liberating initiative" that "helps break the barriers of shame" in the sector.
"Unfortunately, the culture of shame is still very widespread in the Jordanian health sector, especially when it comes to therapy specialists," a Facebook user commented on the first video of the series, adding "I would never want to go to therapy or see a psychological specialist who will only consider me as 'mad'. It is a shame that we have turned to secrecy and silence about mental disorders because this is not the solution!"
Tackling subjects often overlooked in the public sphere, the videos cover a wide range of topics such as psychiatric medication, causes of mental illness, addiction and healthy living, among others.
'When you ask people about the causes of mental illness, you will hear many answers going from 'patients are just being weak or spoiled', 'they have little faith' or even are being 'liars'. However, there are many scientific reasons for mental illnesses including genetics, social stressors, physiology or change in neurotransmitters,' psychiatrist Laith Abbadi explained in an episode on the causes of mental disorders, citing studies showing that people with at least one family member suffering from depression have a 10 per cent chance of getting the illness as well.
Basing his arguments on scientific research, studies and statistics, the resident in psychiatry at the University of Jordan provides an accessible and easily understandable insight into the issue of mental health.
'Our videos tackle mental health in general but most specifically the misinformation that we have in society about mental illness,' said Ibrahem Abu Hijleh, a lead team member at Nafsyeh.
A few years ago, Jordan was identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as 'a country in need of intense support for strengthening the mental health system', while a comprehensive report by the WHO and the Ministry of Health recently stated that 'while several local and international NGOs and agencies and professional associations have participated in public education and awareness campaigns on mental health in the last five years, activities have been very limited and infrequent'.
According to the WHO, one out of four people will suffer from a mental or neurological disorder in their life, amounting to an estimated 450 million people globally.
For Ghada Omar, a Facebook user who commented on a video on the causes of mental illness, it is essential for people with mental disorders to realise they are sick so they can seek treatment from a competent professional.
"Most importantly, what needs to change is the view of negative individuals who mock people with mental disorders because it is before anything an illness. No one should be ashamed of this," she stressed.
Featured in Arabic with English subtitles, the videos have been widely commended by online users, with episodes gathering over 23,000 views in less than a month.
Commenting on an episode about healthy lifestyle, Ala'a Shaban wrote that "these videos do not only bring valuable information to the public, they also explain these subjects in an engaging way, presenting ideas in an attractive way which truly gives them excellent credibility".
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