How Is Iranians’ Mental Health These Days? | Rising Prices and Shortages of Psychiatric Medications Are Serious

The head of Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran says the consequences of psychiatric disorders are not limited to the individual. They also affect families, workplaces, and society, and in many cases their effects cannot be reversed.

It was brought up in a conversation with the head of Rozbe Psychiatric Hospital

The head of Rouzbeh Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran says: The consequences of psychiatric disorders are not limited only to the individual. It also affects the family, work environment and society and has effects that cannot be compensated in many cases.

Ambassador Arjan - Parvaneh Bandapi: war, uncertainty about the recurrence of conflicts and ever-increasing economic problems, the daily life of Iranians has faced severe psychological pressures. A situation whose signs can be seen in the increase of referrals to psychiatric centers. The head of Rouzbeh Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran warns that neglecting the psychosocial support of citizens can intensify this process. In the situation where the shortage and high cost of psychiatric drugs has made the treatment of patients more difficult.

Dr. Amirhossein Jafari, a neuropsychologist and the head of Tehran's Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, in a conversation with Ambassador Arjan, explains about the psychological situation prevailing in Iranian society: "Usually during acute crises, including war and other crises, issues related to mental health are largely out of the priority of citizens and policy makers. But after the end of the crisis and its abatement, when the social and economic consequences of the crisis become more pronounced, the importance of mental health becomes more apparent."

Jafari says: "Currently, signs of this situation can be seen at the community level. Of course, this does not mean that we have encountered a significant increase in the number of clients in Rozbeh Hospital, but an increasing trend with a small slope can be seen, which may become more intense in the future.

According to Jafari, "If this issue is not taken into consideration and necessary measures are not taken to support the society and citizens, this process may intensify and have irreparable consequences."

What patients are admitted daily?

In response to the question of which patients are hospitalized in Rozbe Psychiatric Hospital, Jafari explains: "This hospital provides both outpatient and inpatient services. Outpatient services cover a wide range of diseases and disorders; From the problems related to children, adolescents and the elderly to sleep disorders, sexual disorders, psychotherapy, drug therapy and interventional psychiatry that tries to make improvements in the treatment process by using tools. In the inpatient department, we provide services to patients whose illness is so severe that we may not be able to provide them with adequate treatment and care through outpatient treatment. In some cases, psychiatric disorder can put a person at risk; Including the risk of suicide. In such a situation, it may be necessary to hospitalize the patient."

We are facing a serious shortage of psychiatric drugs

The head of Rozbe Psychiatric Hospital also points to the lack of neuropsychiatric drugs and says: "We are facing serious shortages in the field of psychiatric drugs. Compared to many other pharmaceutical fields, this field is more affected by the lack of medicine and the high cost of medicine, and many patients and their families are struggling with this problem.

Jafari emphasizes: "We hope that the voices of the patients will reach the ears of those involved in this field and that they will prioritize these problems. Because the consequences of psychiatric disorders are not limited to the individual. It also affects the family, work environment and society and has complications and effects that cannot be compensated in many cases."

Are Iranians suffering from mental exhaustion?

In response to Ambassador Arjan's question whether it is possible to say that Iran's society has reached mental exhaustion, the head of Rouzbeh Psychiatric Hospital said: "We are faced with various people who have suffered mental exhaustion and this situation may become more prevalent in the future." But to say that the entire Iranian society has suffered from mental exhaustion is not something that I, as a psychiatrist, can make a definitive statement about. As a rule, those who work in the field of social issues and sociology should comment on this matter.

Jafari adds: "At the individual level, there are people who suffer from burnout symptoms due to environmental, economic and social tensions or even suffer from psychiatric diseases such as anxiety, depression and other disorders in this area, and this issue is confirmed."

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In response to the question of what recommendations can improve people's condition in the current situation where Iranian society is under various psychological pressures, Jafari says: "We must correct our views, ask people to think about themselves and take care of themselves, and also care about their family members and relatives. At the macro level, it is necessary for health policy makers to pay special attention to the issue of better access of people to mental health services.