Mr. Abduallah Al-Ammari, the Chief Operating Officer at the National Guard Health Affairs launched on Wednesday the 22nd of April a workshop organized by the Social Services Department in King Abdulaziz medical city in Jeddah under the title “The Effects of Depression on the Family and Community” in correspondence with International Social Worker Day. The workshop lasted for two days at the Sheraton conference hall. A number of social work specialties and psychotherapist have participated in the conference as did professors, trainers and academics specializing in psychology.
The workshop addressed many topics such as: providing a brief about depression in psychology, its types and the groups that suffer from depression. The workshop also addressed methods and remedial steps with depression patients plus highlighting depression effects on social and family relations. On the second day, the meaning of behavioral and cognitive therapy for depression was discussed as well as an explanation of social depression infection and occupational depression, its causes and the negative effects it has on the community.
The ceremony began with some verses from the Qur’an after which the chairman of the organizing committee and the Social Services Department Director Mr. Abdulaziz Al- Harazi gave a speech. He explained that this event stemmed from the concerns of the NGHA which is eager to provide outstanding medical care for both patients and visitors. The NGHA always seeks to partake in different health events that tend to enlist many prominent professionals to suit each occasion.
Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Harazi pointed out that the Social Services Department at King Abdulaziz Medical City – Jeddah has been offering workshops for more than 10 years regarding the ethics in social work and the role of social workers in dealing with the elderly. It also dealt with vital topics such as domestic abuse and offers workshops and training courses to the university.
In addition, the NGHA seeks to provide financial aid to those in need as well as providing transportation for patients with kidney failure, radiation therapy and physiotherapy in the absence of a partner. Mr. Al-Harazi also highlighted the role that the Social Services Department plays in supporting the patients and their family in dealing with the diagnosis and the treatment plan by identifying their needs and helping them to take advantage of the services provided for the community, such as: housing and transportation.
Later on, Mr. Abduallah Al-Ammari the COO of the National Guard welcomed the speakers and the participants. He said that our government led by the Custodian of the Two Holly Mosques King Abduallah bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince pay great attention to the health sector. As a result of that valued attention, many primary care centers and hospitals now exist with great potential and the latest advanced medical equipment.
A number of speakers participated in this workshop such as Prof. Mohammad Al-Garni, a professor in social services from Ohio University, the USA – 2000, Dr. Mostafa Al-Sa’adani, a psychology consultant from Alexandria University in KAMC- Jeddah, Dr. Abduallah Al-Fozan, an assistant professor in social studies in King Saud University, Ms. Tawfeeqah Al-Tharwa, a psychotherapist in King Abdulaziz Hospital – Makkah, Dr. Sa’ad Al-Mshawah, head of the psychology division and associate professor in King Khalid Military College in the National Guard, a PhD in psychology from Hull University- UK, 2005, Dr. Khalid Bakhathiq, the founder, trainer and consultant in Al-Olfa Center, PhD in psychology 1426H - London, UK and Dr. Mohammad Al-Suleiman, PhD in humanitarian sciences – psychology and skills developing.