One million Algerians suffer mental illness due to unemployment and housing problems

Head of the psychiatric service at Drid Houcine hospital in Algiers, Professor Tadjizza, said that the crisis of unemployment and housing disturbances and mental illness for more than a million Algerians, who were unable to meet the requirements of life, and asserted that his service receives 20.000 patients annually, 2000 of them engaged in treatment at the hospital and the rest receive treatment by medicines and tips. Spokesman warned of phenomenon of exorcism instead of doctors because of the deadly danger which occurred in the future.

• The crisis of unemployment is the main cause of mental disorder and psychological crises for Algerians, as Drid Houcine hospital alone receives mover 20.000 patients annually, most of them youngsters aged between 25 and 45 years, as permitted by the professor Tadjizza, the mental disorders occur as a result of frustration and despair in the face of difficulties of life, moast patients are persons who were unable to achieve what they were dreaming about for a decent life, as housing problems drive thousands of people to psychiatric institutions after desperation and depression which cause disability to good awareness.
• The collapse of purchasing power for many Algerians and their inability to provide the minimum requirements of living made them dream of a world where they can realise their basic needs including a job, housing and marriage, and when they are unable to realise these dreams they get brain shock which generates mental disorders with varying degrees that can be treated under simple guidelines and tips or medication and hospital for long days.
• “ Symptoms of mental illness begun by a sudden change of a person’s reactions, as he/she becomes scared, worried and confused in all his actions because of the feelings of fear and insecurity, and isolated. Some of them resort to smoking, drugs and alcohol in order to get rid of the disturbances, as the most serious symptoms of mental disorders is the imagination of voices and hallucinations in the form of brain orders indicating that someone is trying to kill or abuse him/her, this situation requires urgent transfer to hospital, fearing he/she will become aggressive and violent and can cause damage to himself/herself and to other people”.
• “Some patients resort to “Rokia” or exorcism; this is a dangerous phenomenon which caused deadly disasters, as their mental disorders worsen after their exorcist ordered them to stop taking medication, especially for people with epilepsy, in some cases they died. I call people to resort to psychiatrists in case of depression or anxiety, as the early diagnosis prompt treatment. The psychologist uses the word during the treatment and exploitation of positive psychological factors in order to improve the conditions of his patients, while the psychiatrist uses medicines and social and psychological help”.
• “Psychiatry in Algeria requires new hospitals in order to relieve pressure on existing centres. The Ministry of Health must provide certain medications that noticed a scarcity in pharmacies and even in hospitals, which would alleviate and contribute to the treatment of thousands of patients”.