PSYCHIATRY CASE SERIES - Case 1

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

🧠 PSYCHIATRY CASE SERIES - Case 1 :

Today in the OPD, a 29-year-old young Muslim woman, a school teacher by profession, married with two children, was referred from the casualty department after an alleged suicide attempt by ingesting sleeping pills.

She presented with complaints of:

* Persistent low mood

* Frequent crying spells

* Reduced energy

* Lack of interest in daily work

* Difficulty in concentration

* Disturbed sleep

* Feelings of loneliness

* And recurrent suicidal thoughts

All of these symptoms point towards *Severe Depressive Episode*.

Upon detailed history, it was revealed that her symptoms developed secondary to *severe physical and emotional abuse* at the hands of her husband, a chronic alcoholic and drug addcit. He regularly beats and verbally abuses her, creating a toxic and traumatic environment.

Despite several efforts to escape this cycle—seeking divorce, appealing to her family, and even approaching community leaders—nothing changed. Her mother, due to family ties with the husband, discouraged separation and kept pushing for reconciliation. The community leaders merely counseled the husband, which proved ineffective.

As a result of prolonged trauma and helplessness, she developed severe depression, feeling *worthless, hopeless, and trapped*, eventually leading to suicidal ideation and a suicide attempt.

She has now been started on psychiatric treatment for depression, along with regular counselings.

MESSAGE:

》This is not an isolated case. Such *marital abuse-related depression and suicidal attempts* are tragically becoming more common, especially among lower-middle-class women. I've been witnessing many similar cases since my early PG days at Erragadda Mental Hospital.

》Such Women can be treated for their depression . Help them by referring them to Psychiatrists.

》These lower middle class women—often domestic workers, maids, labours —suffer silently while their husbands or sons, who are chronic alcoholics or Drug abusers, go untreated.

》Also the children of such Alcohol Addicts are soft target of their abuse and face torture leading to mental health issues in childrens too.

🛑 *Alcoholism and drug addiction* must be addressed seriously. These men need psychiatric treatment, detoxification, and rehabilitation. Government hospitals with Psychiatry department and dedicated mental health centers like *Erragadda* offer both inpatient and outpatient services for such cases.

It’s high time that:

》 Families stop enabling abuse.

》Community leaders go beyond just “counseling” and take proactive steps —educating, guiding, and referring abusers to proper treatment centers.

》We all should take responsibility to help such women around us in whatever way possible—be it our housemaids, neighbors, or even relatives.

🚫 This is why ISLAM strictly prohibits alcohol and intoxicants—they corrupt the human mind and soul. An addict loses sense, values, and becomes a source of "fasaad" (corruption and chaos) in the family and the society.

As Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) rightly said "Alcohol is the mother of all evils".

》Let us speak up, support survivors, and guide the abusers to the path of recovery—for their sake and for the countless lives they are destroying.

📣 Be the support that saves a life.

"And whoever saves one life — it is as if he had saved all of mankind" (Quran 5:32)

-Dr. Osaid Ahmed Waseem

MD Psychiatry (OSM)

Consultant Psychiatrist, Karimnagar.

9000359251