HMC's Psychiatry Department Provides Practical Information about the Symptoms and Management of Stress

Doha, 6 June 2011: Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Psychiatry Department invites clinical and healthcare workers, educators and members of the general public to its next Open Day on June 9. The upcoming Open Day will feature a short lecture on stress-related symptoms, potential causes of stress, and a range of treatment options.

In a 20-minute presentation, a specialist consultant will discuss the various types of stress that are common in most societies and their consequences. The lecture will focus on opportunities for stress prevention and stress reduction, as well as highlight available professional resources for those who need additional help in managing more severe symptoms of stress. The open discussion will take place from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Psychiatry Department located near Rumailah Hospital, next to The Center and MegaMart (map is attached).

Most people will experience stress in one or more aspects of their lives. Stress-related symptoms are usually associated with factors such as changing roles and demands within the family, geographical relocation with the resulting loss of natural support networks, complex job and career challenges or as a result of academic pressures, and increased social and financial expectations.

The advent of telecommunications and information technology, particularly the internet, may also be contributing factors as the individual is constantly bombarded with sensational news and demands on his or her attention, resulting in an increasing lack of 'downtime' which is very important for physiological and psychological regeneration.

Stress manifests in many ways. Some of its most common manifestations are chronic exhaustion, irritability, lack of enthusiasm, poor sleep quality, anxiety, and difficulty with concentration. Stress may also lead to more serious physical symptoms affecting the heart, the stomach and other organs.

Individuals may cope with stress through positive skills such as seeking support, exercising, or taking days off. However many people also engage in harmful activities to cope with stress, such as smoking, drinking alcoholic substances, or even resorting to reckless behavior.

This is the second in a series of open days to be held on the second Thursday of each month throughout the year (except for the summer break from July to September). The Psychiatry Department's Open Days aim to educate the public on various aspects of mental illness and mental health.

HMC encourages the public to come and meet with the psychiatrists, psychologists and other healthcare experts, to ask any questions regarding mental health or the services provided by the department.

-Ends-

About HMC:
Hamad Medical Corporation is the premier non-profit healthcare provider in Doha, Qatar.  It was established by Emiri decree in 1979 and manages five highly specialized hospitals, namely, Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Women's Hospital, Al Amal Hospital and Al Khor Hospital.  Since its establishment, HMC has rapidly developed medical facilities capable of providing state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of diseases that previously could only be managed in overseas medical centers.

HMC prides itself in providing quality and cost efficient healthcare for all patients regardless of nationality, in line with the State of Qatar's pledge of "Health for All".  For this purpose, the Corporation implements a policy of continuous improvement of all management systems and patient care protocols. HMC's ethos is based on three key pillars which are Health, Education and Research.

For more information, please contact:
Marketing, Media and Public Relations Department
Hamad Medical Corporation
Tel. No.: +974 4439 5272
Fax No.: +974 4439 5002
www.hmc.org.qa

© Press Release 2011