Q. Can you share with us your journey in the field of psychiatry and what inspired you to specialize in mental health? My journey wasn’t very easy to be honest.
As a professional moving to work in the UK , I can state that I have faced several challenges. Some of the challenges include cultural differences, language barriers, and adjusting to the new work environments and some other unexpected challenges that I prefer not to share.
My profession is very rewarding as I can help patients who were once institutionalized indefinitely by treating them so that they can live at their own homes (even partially), work, and have relationships with people. As a Mental Health specialist , I have the unique opportunity to improve the mental health of my patients and improve their quality of life.
Q. Your work focuses on promoting mental wellness and destigmatizing mental health issues. Could you tell us more about your approach to achieving this goal?
By destigmatizing mental health care, we can encourage more people to seek help when they need it, reducing the burden on individuals and society. Another key factor in the destigmatization of mental health care is the increasing openness of people about their own mental health struggles.
One of my goals is to create awareness around mental health issues. Creating awareness about mental health conditions is, perhaps, the most powerful weapon we can wield to alleviate the shame and denial those suffering from these issues may feel. While we can adopt many approaches to raise awareness, what’s most important is that we try.
I have been involved in discussion groups that talk openly about mental health issues where we shed light on the signs and symptoms and also adopting a holistic approach to help my patients and obviously promote social prescribing and use of various available resources in the community.
Q. As a clinical director for Integrated Care Services Group, what specific initiatives or programs have you implemented to improve mental health services and support in your community?
Integrated care services group was founded with the purpose of helping patients recovering from their illness in community settings. At integrated care we promote treatment that enable people with mental disorders to maintain family relationships, friendships and jobs while receiving treatment, which facilitates early treatment and rehabilitation. With severe shortages of mental health professionals in the country, integration of mental health into existing primary and community health services is the most feasible way of increasing access to services for people with mental health problems.
Q. What are some of the biggest challenges you've encountered in your career, particularly when it comes to breaking barriers in the field of psychiatry?
Stigma, discrimination and prejudice against mental illness and those with mental disorder remain a major challenge to psychiatry, although the fact that more celebrities, sports stars and film stars now talk in public about their experience of mental illness and mental distress may lead to a reduction in stigma.
Q. Could you highlight any recent groundbreaking research or insights you've discovered that have had a significant impact on the understanding and treatment of mental health disorders?
Yes, I can refer to a very recent research published that explores the one medication that is very often prescribed - Ketamine effective for treatment-resistant depression, and the study suggests
A low-cost version of ketamine to treat severe depression has performed strongly in a double-blind trial that compared it with placebo.
In research published on the 14th July 2023 in the British Journal of Psychiatry, researchers led by UNSW Sydney and the affiliated Black Dog Institute found that more than one in five participants achieved total remission from their symptoms after a month of bi-weekly injections, while a third had their symptoms improve by at least 50 per cent. The study was a collaboration between six academic clinical mood disorder units in Australia and one in New Zealand and was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Q. Being invited to speak at the International Conference on Psychiatry and Mental Health Disorders is a remarkable achievement. Can you give us a sneak peek into the empowering conversation you'll be sharing with the attendees?
Conferences are extremely important events that allow speakers to talk openly about various subjects in their areas of expertise. I haven’t prepared my presentation yet, however I can guarantee that I will be promoting the importance of positive mental health, bring some awareness around more specific diagnosis and improve the attendee’s experience by implementing a variety of approaches that can support mental wellness and acknowledge that these events can be draining.
Q. How do you envision the future of mental health care and psychiatry? What changes or advancements would you like to see in the coming years?
It's possible that the future of psychiatry will involve advanced technology and techniques such as deep brain stimulation — implanting activated electrical nodes inside the brain — which has already proven effective in the treatment of Parkinson's and other movement disorders.
Q. In your opinion, what are some of the most effective strategies for raising awareness about mental health and ensuring access to quality care for individuals in need?
In first place I do think that it’s extremely important that we educate the patients about their diagnosed illnesses and support them to comprehend how their diagnosis and symptoms can affect their day to day living.
It’s important that we talk about Mental Health Issues Openly.
- Educate ourselves and Others on the Warning Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illnesses. ...
- Practice Kindness and Compassion. ...
- Take and Share a Free Mental Health Screening. ...
- Participate or Volunteer in Awareness Events.
- Have a holistic approach towards your patient and their families.
Q. As a respected figure in the field, what advice would you give to aspiring psychiatrists or mental health professionals who are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of their patients?
The rewarding aspects of working in mental health is the satisfaction of helping patients achieve a higher quality of life. Within this sector and specially mental health , there are not always tangible outcomes like there are in other specialties, but the intangible outcomes are beautiful.
In addition to this, mental health specialists have a lot of variety in their schedule every day and have several opportunities for growth and development. They also have a high level of financial stability.
Q. Lastly, what message or key takeaway do you hope attendees will leave with after hearing your talk at the International Conference on Psychiatry and Mental Health Disorders?
By attending the Psychiatry and Mental health conference in the United States I do believe that participants will be able to expand their understanding of the field, access the latest research and evidence-based practices, and enhance their professional development. They can network with myself , collaborate with like-minded individuals, and contribute to shaping the future of mental health care.
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