Eight Lectures Promote Awareness and Prevention at Baghdad Medicine’s First Psychiatry Forum
The First Scientific Forum on Psychiatry, organized by the College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, in cooperation with the Department of Internal Medicine / Division of Psychiatry, under the theme “Together, We Build an Aware and Safe Generation: Towards a Healthy Environment Free from Mental Disorders and Addiction,” featured a comprehensive scientific program addressing key mental health issues and approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
The sessions commenced with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Maha Sulaiman Younis entitled “The History and Development of Psychiatry in Iraq.” The lecture reviewed the historical stages in the emergence of the specialty and the development of psychiatric services in Iraq, while highlighting the importance of strengthening public awareness of its role in protecting human health.
In his lecture, “Addiction and Its Impact on Mental Health,” Prof. Dr. Mushtaq Talib Hashim addressed the concept of addiction, its various forms, and its psychological and social consequences, in addition to the principal approaches to prevention and treatment. This was followed by a lecture delivered by Prof. Dr. Naseef Jasim Al-Humairi on “Stigma in Psychiatry,” in which he discussed the impact of social stigma on patients, including the isolation it may cause and the resulting delays in seeking assistance, as well as scientific and community-based approaches to reducing such stigma.
Under the theme of women’s mental health, Lecturer Dr. Marwa Jameel Ahmed delivered a lecture addressing the most significant mental health disorders that may affect women, the factors contributing to them, and established therapeutic approaches for their management.
The sessions resumed with a lecture by Lecturer Dr. Zainab Sinan Abdul-Amir entitled “Suicide and Prevention Strategies,” which focused on risk factors, warning signs, the importance of early intervention, and the provision of specialized psychological support. Lecturer Dr. Lubna Qais Naji also addressed “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults,” discussing the nature of the disorder, its symptoms, and approaches to its diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Zainab Ali Salim delivered a lecture on “Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents,” highlighting the most common disorders, the importance of early diagnosis, and the role of families in providing support and follow-up care. The scientific program concluded with a lecture by Dr. Iman Ahmed Jumaa entitled “Psychotherapy,” which examined various forms of psychotherapy and the role of behavioral therapy in managing different disorders and improving patients’ quality of life.
The lectures reflected the broad range of issues addressed by psychiatry and its relevance to different stages of life as well as to various health and social challenges. They emphasized the importance of promoting mental health literacy, correcting misconceptions, and encouraging individuals to seek specialized professional assistance in a timely manner.
At the conclusion of the forum, the Dean of the College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Prof. Dr. Ameen Abdul-Hassan Manea Al-Alwany, honored the professors who participated in delivering the lectures in recognition of their scientific contributions and efforts in the successful organization of the forum, as well as their role in advancing its mission of promoting mental health awareness and strengthening a culture of prevention and specialized care.
