Cambodia's Mental Health Problem
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 11:51 am
Mental health in Cambodia does not receive enough attention, and we see the effects of the neglect in local news stories every day: violent axe attacks, domestic violence, houses burnt down, child abuse, and suicides are all common events, and most of them don't even make the news here on CEO.
Experts aim to tackle mental illness among Cambodians
21 January 2019
Pyschologists and mental health experts said on Sunday that mental illness is curable, but there is a lack of understanding of it among Cambodians, causing them not to consult with experts.
The issue was raised at the Project Inspire Conference 2019 – under the theme of Mental Health and Wellbeing – held on Sunday at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Centre at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
The gathering aims to inspire action regarding the emotional and mental wellbeing of youth in contemporary society.
Dr Muny Sothara, a psychologist and deputy head of general diseases at Preah Kossamak Hospital, said at the event that his hospital receives 30-50 mental health patients per day, while at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital it is up to 200-300 per day.
“Most of our youths do not seek treatment by themselves. Most of the people seeking treatment for this type of illness are adults who have many problems,” he said.
Sothara said the majority of people seeking help at his hospital did not know they had the disease and had only realised their mental health was unstable after consultation.
“First, they complain only about physical problems and, once we properly diagnose their condition, they realise that the problem is related to mental health."
“Knowledge of mental illness remains limited for the general population. They feel shy and discriminated against. This prevents them from seeking treatment. Even when they know they have a mental illness, they will not openly talk about it."
“I want to inform the public that mental illness is not terrible or incurable. Mental illness is curable,” he stressed.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... cambodians
Experts aim to tackle mental illness among Cambodians
21 January 2019
Pyschologists and mental health experts said on Sunday that mental illness is curable, but there is a lack of understanding of it among Cambodians, causing them not to consult with experts.
The issue was raised at the Project Inspire Conference 2019 – under the theme of Mental Health and Wellbeing – held on Sunday at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Centre at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
The gathering aims to inspire action regarding the emotional and mental wellbeing of youth in contemporary society.
Dr Muny Sothara, a psychologist and deputy head of general diseases at Preah Kossamak Hospital, said at the event that his hospital receives 30-50 mental health patients per day, while at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital it is up to 200-300 per day.
“Most of our youths do not seek treatment by themselves. Most of the people seeking treatment for this type of illness are adults who have many problems,” he said.
Sothara said the majority of people seeking help at his hospital did not know they had the disease and had only realised their mental health was unstable after consultation.
“First, they complain only about physical problems and, once we properly diagnose their condition, they realise that the problem is related to mental health."
“Knowledge of mental illness remains limited for the general population. They feel shy and discriminated against. This prevents them from seeking treatment. Even when they know they have a mental illness, they will not openly talk about it."
“I want to inform the public that mental illness is not terrible or incurable. Mental illness is curable,” he stressed.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... cambodians