CABAR.ASIA
Psychiatry in Central Asia: Social Stigma and Isolation
How psychiatric services work in Central Asian states
Psychiatric care is a type of special medical care provided to patients with mental (psychoneurological) disorders, as well as the network of health facilities and their branches designed to provide such care.
| What to do to prevent mental disorders? Our advisor is Zhakshylyk Zhyrgalbekov, the director of 'Mental Health and Society' Public Association Unfortunately, there is no recipe. We should understand that it all begins with the mental condition of a person. We should avoid stress. We should keep to the day regimen, which is one of the most important components of the healthy mind of a person. We should get enough sleep, avoid excessive fatigue. We should be physically active and look after our mental wellbeing. We should reduce the number of negative emotions, be less nervous. "We must assess our condition. If you think your condition is inappropriate or you have mental issues, you must visit specialists. If a person has never had any mental disorders, they can visit a psychologist. There are various solutions for various categories of people. Parents should look after their children, and adults must take care of their mental health themselves," Zhyrgalbekov said. It is essential to communicate with people, friends, colleagues, be active in the society. Physical exercises, walks are a good preventive measure against professional burnout and depression because they generate natural happy hormones – serotonin and dopamine. "If you have particular symptoms, for example, if you have already had a mental disorder or if you have some traumatic events, depression, loss of reality, negative thoughts, you can seek advice of a counsellor or psychiatrist at a family medicine centre," the specialist recommended. |
| How to support a loved one if one has a mental disorder? Our consultant is Zhakshylyk Zhyrgalbekov, director of Mental Health and Society Public Foundation "First of all, we need to understand that this is a disease and it has various features. Schizophrenia leads to personality disorder, thought and attention disorder. Various symptoms develop in various forms," said Zhyrgalbekov. Specialists recommend not taking manifestations of the disease as one's caprices, or responding to provocation, or thinking that the person's behaviour is aimed against you. "You need to try to support the person, not to get angry, to understand, not to come against the person. If the need arises, visit a psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor. It is important to communicate with them, to contact them more often. Find more information about the disorder, learn how it develops and manifests itself. This way it will be easier for you to know what happens to the person," the expert recommended. |
Authors:
- Zulfia Raissova,
- Daniil Lyapichev,
- Mazhab Jum'a
- Abror Kurbonmuratov
Editor:
Natalia Lee
Illustrations:
Nasiba Karimova
Layout:
- Zulfia Raissova
This publication was produced as part of the mentorship programme under the Development of New Media and Digital Journalism in Central Asia project delivered by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) with support from the UK Government. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of IWPR or the UK Government
