By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: An expatriate female student died after falling from the second floor of Kuwait University's College of Science at its campus in Shadadiya last week. The university announced in a statement that preliminary investigations indicated that suicide cannot be ruled out. Suicide is a desperate attempt to escape suffering. But survivors of suicide often say the intention is not recognized. They all start getting suicidal thoughts after depression.

Speaking to Kuwait Times, Counseling psychologist Barehan Hassan said depression is a mental illness that often begins and continues without attention or treatment, affecting the patient's personal and social life. "Depression often develops in people gradually, and is noticed by people close to the patient first, so it is important to know the correct way to deal with a depressed patient to avoid any deterioration in their mental state," she noted.

Hassan revealed that people should know how to deal with depressed patients. "People must listen to their beloved ones more and encourage them to talk about feelings without judging their psychological state. Continuity is important to prevent any deterioration. Always ask about the emotional side of the story," she said.

Hassan pointed out that showing support for the depressed person and emphasizing that depression is a pathological condition and not due to a person's weakness or deficiency helps them in their recovery journey. "Express your willingness to help and support, and explain the importance of treatment with a specialist, away from the social stigma associated with it."

Hassan explained the necessity of understanding the psychological and social dimensions of depression, affirming that people have to be patient to help a depressed person successfully go through this difficult phase of their life. Regarding the symptoms of depression, she said: "It is important to know the symptoms of depression so that you can recognize them if they occur. Depression will start with the person losing passion and enjoyment doing activities and hobbies that they previously enjoyed, in addition to feeling tired, sleepy, empty, frustrated, angry, anxious and a change in appetite. They will also feel a loss of sense of self-worth and feelings of guilt, and will have difficulty maintaining focus and making decisions."

Hassan explained the person will also lose the desire to take care of personal hygiene, and explained that it is normal for a person to feel sad or negative feelings temporarily. But if they persist for more than two weeks for no reason, this often indicates the person is depressed, and it is recommended to see a psychiatrist to provide appropriate treatment.