Let’s talk about workplace depression in Oman

Youth on the brink of suicide

During our interviews, we stumbled upon one Omani man in his early30s who claimed that he had used narcotics to calm himself following working hours. He refused to reveal his identity to us, but asserted that he has been clean since 2015.

“When I took my new job as a junior engineer in a telecom firm in Oman, I was only 26. The initial days were all about learning and taking time to settle into my first real job,” he tells

“But as time flew, the company began downsizing and eventually I had to take care of everything from renewing visas for existing employees, which is the job of a public relations office; site inspections; health and safety of the staff; laying the blueprints for our projects; and, finally, creating weekly reports.

“This grew on my head to a point that I couldn’t take it anymore. I always knew that I had hated the job and that I was very upset. My bosses were unforgiving and there was no room for errors. This continued for eight years and I was doing it as a routine for my family (parents and siblings).

“That’s when I came across the narcotic, which my friend used to abuse himself with. It didn’t take me long to get hooked onto it. And before I knew it, I was taking it at least five to six days a week and I was spending more than RO300 to fulfil
my needs.

“The pleasure came from detaching myself from the surroundings and work. But I would still go to work the next day and do my job. Soon, this activity became the reason I was earning; my whole life fell apart, but I kept thinking that all was well.”

Things changed soon, though, he pointed out, before taking a deep gulp. The man’s emotions ran deep when talking about his bygone days.

“The time soon came when people at work started suspecting that I was using narcotics. I was let go from my job. And I remember walking into my house at 12:15pm – for what seemed like the first time in six years – and I went into my room. What happened next is something I am not proud of: I decided to take a whole packet of Panadol to just let everything go from me. I didn’t want to live anymore,” he tells, with his voice now almost inaudible.

“But the reason I didn’t do it is because of the sound I heard of my sister from the other room. I heard her talking to my mother about something, but just the voice that I heard made me feel that I wasn’t alone in this.

“Trust me: I had three whole strips of Panadol in my hands. And as I put them away, I felt a voice in my head assuring me that if I pray all will be well. I prayed to Allah like I had never done, and that was the day I walked into the rehabilitation centre in Al Masarra Hospital.”

Today, he remains clean and has switched from engineering to operating his own business: car washing. The entrepreneur can now look back at his life and heave a sigh of relief as to how he has turned his life around.

But many others aren’t that lucky.

A matter of concern

Oman has often been touted as the country in the GCC with the least number of suicides annually, but the numbers must be lowered further. In 2016, the country registered 25 suicides in total, down from 30 in 2015.

But a report published in the 1990s (as per the UAE daily The National) did find that one in five patients admitted for ingesting pills with the aim of committing suicide were female.

While the reasons for the suicides haven’t been revealed, Dr Amira believes that there isn’t enough data to pinpoint workplace depression as a major cause of suicides in Oman.

“Yes, suicides are a matter of concern for anyone undergoing depression, but I think there’s no way we can tell the reason as to why a person took his or her own life. A majority of people with depression and anxiety problems don’t seek medical help either.”

Needed: More clinics

This, however, sheds light on another prominent topic: The availability of qualified doctors and health facilities to treat those in need. Currently, the Al Masarra Hospital, Whispers of Serenity Clinic and Al Harub Medical Centre are among a few of the leading centres for mental health care in Oman.

As per WHO-AIMS (World Health Organisation- Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems), the “density of psychiatrists in and around the largest city (Muscat) is 2.42 times greater than the density of psychiatrists in the entire country”.

Dr Amira says: “We need to provide more facilities for behavioural consultation in Oman. We’re currently in the development phase of these facilities.We really need the human resources to conduct all these services too. So, in the coming years, you will be seeing more specialised doctors in Oman.

“At the end of the day, awareness is key and the number one way to tackle this issue. Community awareness will slowly bring to light these issues – and that’s how we can sort out this concern. We don’t want to see these numbers rising.”