Friday 20 / September / 2024
Muscat: In light of the recent suicide case involving an expat employee in Nizwa, there is a general call for generating more awareness and extending help to people suffering from depression, or suicidal thoughts.
Read here: Illness, hope for more money took Indian expat's life in Oman
“There is an issue of suicide when it comes to foreign employees working here. The numbers appear to be rising, and last year too there was a case of parents and a child, where the parents had committed suicide. I am sure this person in Nizwa was showing some symptoms at work, perhaps his colleagues would be aware,” said Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, mental health expert and founder of the Whispers of Serenity Clinic, which also provides counselling in such cases.
The Times of Oman spoke with Laith Mubarak Al Abdulsalam, who attempted suicide twice, but failed.
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Speaking from his experience, Abdulsalam said suicidal thoughts can arise from various issues. “From my experience, lack of self love, failure, not accepting yourself, no hope in life, contribute to such thoughts, especially when you have no support from your loved ones or when you isolate yourself, it is dangerous.”
“The first time I took an overdose of pills; I slept for three days, but didn’t die. The second time I took a heavy dose of drugs, I still did not die. The thought of suicide did not come to me just one morning, no, it was piling up over a long time, that’s how it happens.”
For people undergoing depression, Al Said suggests that they should not wait till the last minute to seek help.
“I would recommend that the person does not wait until they have those thoughts of killing themselves.
“When you start suffering from depression, that’s when you need to go to a therapist, or seek a colleague. Sometimes when you sense that someone is having issues, you speak to them and convince them to seek help, do whatever, but don’t ignore it.”
She added that although there is help available in the country, there is not much awareness. “There is help available at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, also at Al Massarrat and at the Whispers of Serenity Clinic. Going back to awareness, we are doing as much as we can, but there isn’t much here, even at work, there should be a monthly letter circulated among employees to look after themselves, there needs to be talks about this in companies, these are important things that should happen, sometimes employers don’t think about this. In other countries, there is a doctor and a psychologist in every company, or the boss at work would see there is something wrong and would refer you to a hospital.”
When it comes to psychologists, Abdulsalam said they can be expensive and going to a psychologist has a stigma attached to it, which implies one is crazy.
“Psychologists are expensive here, and people also don’t seek help because of the taboo, which is why awareness is very important and works wonders. Listening to people works very well. Apart from that organising support groups is also a great way to get such people to talk and comfort.”
