Free mental health consultations for a week
Dubai Health Care City launches campaign to offer assistance to residents
Half of mental health issues begin around the age of 14, but most go undetected owing to the stigma attached to mental health. Often, such cases double by the age of 20, according to a report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to mark World Mental Health Day yesterday.
The report added that suicide was the second highest cause of death in 15- to 20-year-olds. In the UAE, teenagers challenged by depression, anxiety and phobias have developed a higher risk of committing suicide in the last two years.
However, mental health is a national priority with the UAE government, which has been taking positive steps to introduce polices and frameworks to improve mental well-being in youth and adults.
Mental health issues are a part of Dubai Health Strategy 2021 and it plans to push to remove the stigma attached to mental health through its ‘Happy Lives, Healthy Communities’ strategy, which has spurred action among stakeholders in the health industry.
Recognising the need for awareness of mental health issues among the youth, Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) held a mental health seminar at the Amity University campus in Dubai Academic City.
Kicking off a weeklong mental health awareness campaign, DHCC is also offering free mental consultation for walk-in candidates.
Dr Ramadan Al Beloushi, CEO, Dubai Healthcare City — Regulatory, said: “Enabling access to mental health care and treatment is an integral part of finding long-term solutions. World Mental Health Day is a timely reminder to raise awareness and initiate conversations to improve mental well-being in the communities we serve.”
In DHCC, close to 30 clinical partners offer services in mental health issues that affect children and adults alike. Last year, more than 16,000 patients visited these clinics. Speaking on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Bijal Oza, a clinical psychologist with the SP Jain School of Global Management, confirmed that in one semester that usually has 300 to 350 students ages 18-24 in graduate studies, mental health issues among young students have been multiplying.
“This is true of youngsters at most academic institutions. Previously, if we had one or two students per cohort, their number has gone up to six in the last one year,” said Oza.