Discussion Psychiatry in Non-developed countries

[AntiAll]

Hi

I always wondered why the developed countries like US or the UK have higher rate of suicide than most of the developing countries like african countries or middle eastern ones.

Although in Iraq and middle east we have a little accessibility to psychiatrists or mental hospitalization.. I need to ask those who live in Europe and north America about the mental therapy in their states.. is it useful? Or just a waste of time

Most of the families in Iraq would blame the evil spirits and ghosts about the mental illnesses like schizophrenia or say that the depression patient has bad karma
And the funniest part is that going to a psychiatrist and seeking therapy is considered immoral here..

So what do you think ?

 

[mlcs]

Hi

I always wondered why the developed countries like US or the UK have higher rate of suicide than most of the developing countries like african countries or middle eastern ones.

Although in Iraq and middle east we have a little accessibility to psychiatrists or mental hospitalization.. I need to ask those who live in Europe and north America about the mental therapy in their states.. is it useful? Or just a waste of time

Most of the families in Iraq would blame the evil spirits and ghosts about the mental illnesses like schizophrenia or say that the depression patient has bad karma
And the funniest part is that going to a psychiatrist and seeking therapy is considered immoral here..

So what do you think ?

I wish it was considered immoral here too. Once you enter the world of psychiatry and they drug you with brain damaging medications, you ll never be able to get out and the rest of your life is between suicide and being their client till you die. Therapy may be ok, but psychiatrists are immoral bastards who are not held accountable by anyone. They can do whatever they want and they will. Sell unnecessary medications and ruin patients life.

 

[UsagiDrop]

I'm not from any of the countries you're actually asking from but I think these are some factors to consider:

1) Accessibility to services and quality of said services. Just because mental health and psychological services are available and encouraged, does not mean that they are accessible or good. They are often very expensive and run the risk of further traumatizing a patient. A lot of people have shared their experiences on here and they aren't always wonderful. Many mental health professionals are failing people. Getting committed to an institution in a crisis or perceived crisis is quite possibility the worst thing that may happen to a person.
2) Religious cultures. Developing countries often have stronger ones than developed countries and many, if not most, religions state that taking your life will condemn you to hell. In my developing country the suicide rate is less than 5% but it isn't like people are enjoying their lives. I've come across a lot of people who would casually mention how they would do it if it didn't mean eternal punishment, how they wish something would just happen to them and take them out instead. Mental illnesses are stigmatized, suicidal ideation is viewed as immoral or as a weakness, and religious guilt will probably discourage a lot of people from actually taking this route. I was overdosing during my attempt and while they were forcing me to vomit I was also having bible verses recited to me lol. Opened up to family and instead of trying to focus on why I feel that way, they told me it was a sin. It actually did stop my attempts for a long time.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

Whether mental therapy can be successful or not that mainly depends whether the "mental illness" of a patient can be cured or not. To cure an illness the source and the reason for the illness have to be elimininated or healed. Unfortunately in most cases of "mental illness" neither source nor reason are known and that makes one an "experimental animal" with sometimes a worse outcome and no healing at all. I would say unless oneself knows the reason and the source of their "mental illness" therapy and meds are useless and only make the doctor richer but doesn't help the patient at all. However there are a few cases certainly that had a positive outcome, but imo it's very rare.

Especially in the middle east and developing countries in general religion and beliefs are much more present than in the developed countries and this is a poison for people with "mental illnesses".