Mental Health

Mental health does not just mean the absence of any mental illness. Mental health is the way we perceive our abilities, and bear the stresses of normal life. It affects the way we think, how we feel, how we act and how we make life decisions.
Mental health is an essential part of health and therefore an inherent human right, as mental illness accounts for 14% of the global burden of disease as a whole. The most common mental illnesses globally are: depression, anxiety, mood swings, post-traumatic stress disorder, mania, drug abuse, and others.

• Some mental disorders have a role in increasing the risks of contracting some infectious and non-communicable health diseases.
• On the other hand, certain health conditions can increase the risk of developing certain mental disorders as well.

• Stigma is how others view a person in a negative way because of their own characteristics or different personality traits.
• Unfortunately, it is common for people suffering from mental illness and mental illness to be stigmatized, which may affect the willingness of the person suffering from any mental health or psychological condition to share his suffering and thoughts with others, which may cause delays in his request for support from others to face the issue. Therefore, awareness-raising efforts on mental and psychiatric illnesses are very important to counteract stigma.

• Mental health and support is not only provided by specialized people (psychiatrists or psychologists), but everyone can have a role in psychological support, including the person himself through some coping mechanisms.
• Coping mechanisms include many activities and techniques such as slow breathing, meditation, light exercise and other activities that are able to relieve stress, increase the sense of self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Basic psychological support is provided by family members, friends, and communities.
• Then comes a higher level of support, which is called psychosocial support.
Examples of this support are: counseling and education sessions, positive parenting, support groups, stress and anxiety management techniques, and other techniques provided by teachers, community leaders, family physicians, social workers, and others who have received adequate training.
• Then comes the role of specialists from psychiatrists and psychologists to provide an advanced level of services such as psychological treatment and drug therapy if necessary.

Mental health problems have many different signs and symptoms. The predominant mental illness is based on: anxiety and stress; Especially related to the occurrence of previous traumas called post-traumatic stress disorder or (PTSD), depression, mood swings and panic attacks.

Seek help if any of the following signs develop:

• My current mood prevents me from carrying out my life normally.
• I feel that I am negatively affecting the people I live or work with.
• My mood changes have been going on for several weeks.
• I have thoughts of harming myself or thoughts of harming others.
• At work, or while doing housework, I feel more tired than usual, or make unusual mistakes.
• Lately I prefer to isolate myself.

Drug treatment may be part of the treatment plan. The doctor may decide that it is not needed at a certain stage of treatment, and it is specified for a certain period that does not last, in most cases.

Most psychiatric drugs do not lead to addiction, and if the prescribed treatment is received and stopped in accordance with the attending physician’s instructions and the written dosages, this reduces the possibility of any addictive or medical symptoms.

Yes, doing the usual daily activity does not mean that there is no psychological problem, as the psychological problem often does not lead to the inability to coexist. And asking for early support is much better for treating and understanding mental illness.

Our mental health is not considered a luxury but a necessity. Our psychological stability is critical, and it helps with our physical health, improves our productivity and makes us happier.
We must take care of our mental health by: taking care of our physical health, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly (including walking), engaging in various activities (some UNHCR partners and community centers offer the opportunity to include yourself and your family in various activities).

Psychological problems are very common, and they occur to all of us of all circumstances and ages.
Having a psychological problem is not a shame. Seek support from your network and close friends, your community, humanitarian workers from associations, initiatives and organizations, or mental health care providers, in that order.

Public centers and hospitals are spread across all governorates.

List of services: trauma, in-patient, out-patient, medication, support groups, emergency services and counseling

General Secretariat Hotline 16328

Telephone 0220816831

Hospitals specializing in psychiatry:

• Cairo: Abbasiya Hospital, Helwan Hospital, Khanka Hospital
• Alexandria: Maamoura Hospital, Abbas Helmy Hospital
• Delta and Qanal Governorates: Benha Hospital, Damietta Hospital, Mansoura Hospital, Port Said Hospital

Health units:

• Cairo (Seventh – Haggana – Saqr Quraish – Maadi Al-Khubari)
• Giza (Talbeya – Omrania – Kafr Nassar – Mit Oqba – West Airport – Zayed – Sixth – Hosary)
• Request mental health and psychosocial support services at a nearby clinic

Public hospitals:

Ahmed Maher Hospital, Al Sahel Hospital, Zayed General Hospital, Umm Al Masryeen Hospital, Nervous System Institute

University Hospitals:

Ain Shams University Hospital, Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital, Alexandria University Hospital, Mansoura University Hospital

• PSTIC

(Cairo and Alexandria)

PSTIC has a trained team of psychosocial workers who provide community and home psychosocial support, case management, problem solving, counselling, information sharing, referral, emergency crisis response, and interpretation services.

01127777005

• Caritas Egypt

Caritas in Cairo (6^th of October, Nasr City, Garden City) and on the North Coast (Alexandria, Damietta, Mansoura and Marsa Matrouh) have mental health clinics run by specialized psychiatrists. They provide consultations, psychological treatment sessions, follow-up and prescription of medication.

(6th of October / Nasr City / Garden City)

0227961441 / 0227961771 / 0227949203

(Alexandria) Raml Station – Agami – (Damietta) – (Mansoura) – (Marsa Matrouh)

01207726477 – 01103928852 – 01103013793

Mental health clinics run by specialized psychiatrists

* (consultations – psychological treatment sessions – follow-up)

* Dispensing of prescribed medications

• Save the Children

(Cairo and Alexandria)

Supports and pay for hospital admissions, including in psychiatric hospitals.
01280770146
01280769456
01064833320