(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Doha: Two Northwestern University in Qatar students selected for a global mental health journalism programme in the US have called for increasing societal awareness of mental health issues.
More awareness and understanding of mental health can be achieved by sharing real experience of people, said Inaara Gangji, one of the students selected by the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) to participate in the journalism programme created by former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter and coordinated by The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, US.
'Media can promote more awareness of mental health illness by humanising it. On most occasions, people see mental health as something that would not affect them or their dear ones. People need to understand that similar to our physical health, mental health too can be affected. Whether a normal stress we deal with in our daily lives or a serious mental health condition, it needs to be addressed, Inaara told The Peninsula.
'The more we talk about mental illness in a contextualised way with real stories, the more we normalise it, she said.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and health sector institutions joined the international community to mark the World Mental Health Day yesterday under the theme ‘Mental Health for All: Greater Investment — Greater Access'.
Also many residents in Qatar joined the global social media challenge to get the world moving on mental health launched with a call for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health. Many in Qatar joined #MoveforMentalHealth challenge by posting videos showing what they do in support of their mental well being.
Maryam Abujbara, another student following the global programme, said that media is an effective means to share knowledge and experience about mental health.
'Our lives are strongly influenced by what we see, hear and read. Therefore it is a strong path for experts, people with knowledge and experience to educate the public about the mental health, she said.
She said educating the public about mental health issues will also promote quality of life. 'For example, if a teacher with knowledge of mental health issues notices a problem in a student, he can help that student.
Inaara and Maryam, both journalism and strategic communications majors, join a cohort of international journalists, and have committed to investigating specific topics around mental health in Qatar over the next 12 months, with the impact of COVID-19 being the dominant focus.
Over the course of the year-long training programme, the students will work closely with their professors at Northwestern Qatar, and with mentors in the US and Qatar, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to produce accurate and balanced reports on mental health issues in ways that aim to eliminate stereotypes and stigma.
Director of the Mental Health Program at The Carter Center, Eve Byrd, said, 'It's been gratifying for all of us to see the dedication and enthusiasm coming from the journalism fellows and scholars in Qatar. Their work is helping to break down barriers and build awareness about mental health needs and solutions in Qatar.
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