Advocate groups says people with psychological disorders have to live with injustice, harassment, inequality

Feb 28, 2013

ZARQA/AMMAN -- "I always felt like a second-class member of the family when it came to marriage, rights and even my education," says Nisreen.

Nisreen is one of several people recently interviewed by The Jordan Times who are diagnosed with mental illness and face discrimination both at work and at home because of this condition. 

Nisreen and the other persons diagnosed with mental illness or psychological disorders mentioned in this story were given pseudonyms at their request.

Abdullah said that he was bullied out of his job when his employer found that he was mentally ill.   

"At times, I feel highly productive and energetic, but at other times I feel very low and unable to do any work. When I explained to my boss that I am on medication for a psychological disorder, he started harassing me to leave the job," said the 30-year-old electrician. 

"Not only that, but my colleagues at work, whom I used to consider my friends, began treating me as if I was carrying a virus that would infect them," he added. 

Ibtissam Ramaheen says she has not been subject to any challenges at work as she has purposely hid her illness from her colleagues. 

She fears her contemporaries finding out about her condition, as she often hears them using the terms "mentally ill" or "having mental issues" in a derogatory manner.

"For them, the term 'mentally ill' implies someone who is haunted and evil, walking around the streets hurting others. It reveals both their ignorance and their intolerance. I am sure this is how they will perceive me if they find out I take medication for a mental illness," she said.  

Discrimination at home  
People with mental illnesses do not only face prejudice by strangers and in the workplace, but sometimes "painfully" by closest family members as well. 

"People look forward to the spring, but I am dreading it. My family will be going on picnics and abandon me at home, as they find me a source of shame because of my illness," Abdullah said. 

Taghreed was on medication for five years before she told her husband and his family, because she feared that he would abandon her once he discovered the truth. 

"I did not know I could seek help for my condition in public hospitals where I am insured, so I spent a huge amount of money going to private doctors. I did this until I ran out of funds... my husband only noticed when I had sold all of my clothes and jewellery," she said. 

"He refused to come with me to the hospital. When he has to drop me off for an appointment, he hides in the car because he is scared that people will find out that his wife has a mental illness," said the mother of four children. 

The issue of how the society looks at mental illness is at the core of Our Step's mission. 

The president of the local advocacy group, Amera Jamal, said families can be ashamed of their children and sometimes they are victims of the social stigma that accompanies these issues.  

"When one person is mentally ill, their entire family is stigmatised. Parents try to hide their children from the public, or avoid seeking medical attention for them as they fear what society will say," she told The Jordan Times, adding that it can hinder the marriage prospects of those affected in some cases. 

Several women interviewed said they worry about having their condition documented as they believe it may result in losing custody of their children. 

"Women are constantly threatened that their husbands will take their children away from them because of their psychological disorders. When my mother-in-law found out that I was diagnosed with a mental illness, she showed one of my prescriptions to all her neighbours," Taghreed said. 

Wedad Najadeen, a lawyer and counsellor working at the local women's group Sisterhood Is Global Institute - Jordan, said that it was often ignorance of their rights and the laws on mental illness that discouraged women from seeking professional help. 

"The law is very strict on parental custody of children in regards to mental illness. If it is proven by a physician that the mental condition of either the mother or the father can affect the welfare of their children, then their custody is taken away," she told The Jordan Times. 

Najadeen added that just being diagnosed with a mental illness, or being on antidepressant medication will not affect the parent's eligibility to custody.

Raising awareness 
According to Nayel Adwan, director of the National Centre for Mental Health, the number of people diagnosed with mental illness in Jordan is unknown. 

The centre generates its estimates from global figures, which would indicate that 25 per cent of the population is diagnosed, he said. 

"In the past, we conducted a study that said 36 per cent of the population suffers from mental illnesses. However, this is not necessarily accurate as people are not aware of exact symptoms of depression and other disorders, so they may self-diagnose that they suffered from depression when it was not actually the case," he told The Jordan Times.  

According to figures by the National Centre for Mental Health, men seek help from public facilities more than women. 

"It is mainly men who come for us for help. In most cases, families stop their daughters from seeking help as they worry the stigmas associated with mental illness will prevent them from marriage," Adwan said. 

However, men remain victims to the stigma and face social exclusion. 

"When I started looking for a bride, I felt I had to accept anyone who would have me. My family started looking for someone who had limited choices of marriage... someone old, divorced or unable to have children," Abdullah said. 

Activists of the group Our Step, vow to fight social stigma and ensure people with mental illness are treated equally.  

"We really want this to change. We want the new generations to tolerate mental illness and treat it just like any other illness," said Wafa Khatib, an Our Step member.

Through media campaigns and theatre the group plans to target a larger audience next year, with a focus on young people, Jamal said.  

© Jordan Times 2013