Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Punjab Medical College Faisalabad in Collaboration with Institute of Psychiatry Rawalpindi Medical College Rawalpindi, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Rawalpindi organized:

“Training workshop for joint Strategies to Counter Stigma / Community stigma level workshop”

The workshop was held at the Department of Psychiatry DHQ Hospital Faisalabad on the 2nd and 4th February 2010. Personnel from Social Welfare Department, Lawyers / Advocates, Press Club, Doctors and Lady Health Workers actively participated.

Workshop was inaugurated by the Honorable Principal Punjab Medical College Dr. Riaz Hussain Dab and Medical Superintendent DHQ Hospital Dr. Hafiz Mukhtar Randhawa. Preceded by recitation of the Holy Quran. Dr. Mukhtar spoke emphatically about the continuous efforts of the Department for public awareness of mental illnesses, followed by Dr. Riaz Hussain who emphasized the importance of Mental Health as well as Physical Health in our lives. Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Dogar facilitated the proceedings by providing a formal introduction to the participants.

Day One:
Causes of Stigma

The main agenda for first day was to identify the “Causes of Stigma”. After 2 hours of combine activity; the following causes of stigma were identified by the participants:

• Lack of Knowledge
• Lack of awareness
• Role of Witch Doctors or spiritual healers
• Lack of knowledge of the facilities available
• Superciliousness
• Guilt
• Cultural trends
• Myths and belief systems
• Lack of Common sens
• Fear of pressure of society
• Non acceptability from society
• Lack of proper coaching
• Lack of role model in the society
• Contradiction in the society
• Lack of religious knowledge
• Lack of social training
• Ignored specialty
• Negative attitude of the society
• Generational rituals and rites
• Interpretation or misinterpretation of religion
• Lack of resources
• Lack of seminars
• Fear of Disease
• Fear of harm at social, physical or spiritual self

At the end of the day, Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Dogar presided over the Q/A session followed by a general discussion on the topic.

Day Two:
Develop Strategies to counter Stigma

Second day started with the aim of developing strategies on both the government and public levels. Following strategies and recommendations were put forward:

1. Department will request to DHDC to arrange a workshop specially about mental health for Lady Health Supervisors (LHS).
2. Department will provide literature and pamphlets about Mental Health Awareness to Lady Health Workers (LHW) for distribution to homes.
3. Five existing centers of Social Welfare Officer Faisalabad District would provide counseling services to community to create awareness about mental health and to decrease stigma attached to mental health problems.
4. Participants gave suggestions that faith healers, religious scholars and Imam Masjid should incorporate in the training workshops of mental health awareness.
5. Department of Psychiatry should arrange separate training workshop for teacher, so that teacher can be helpful in destigmatization.
6. 25-30 Lady Health Workers (LHWs) are working under one Basic Health Unit (BHU). So BHU doctors should be trained enough to screen out mental illness in community and would be able to train/guide LHW’s.
7. Rotation of House Officers (HO) to Psychiatry Department for 15 days would be should be part of House Job. To destigmatize training in psychiatry, there is a need of basic training of every health professional.
8. To create awareness in community about mental health through District coordination council would be in future agenda of department.
9. There is need of more psychiatric units and specialties in District Faisalabad.
10. Outreach services need to provide in other areas like Chiniot, Jhang, Okara etc.
11. Lecture in union council can be effective to create awareness in community.
12. Sensitize the community need to give media coverage to activities regarding mental health.
13. It was suggested to write articles about the common symptoms of mental disorder once in a month.
14. Suggestion with reference to this workshop be forwarded to WHO and Ministry of Health to start a separate TV Channel or health issues, education regarding health services.
15. Lecture about the mental health by professional at schools and colleges would be helpful in creating awareness and to provide knowledge to community.
16. Good and healthy messages can be conveyed to community through pamphlets, posters and charts, painting exhibitions and models on the theme of mental health at schools and college levels.