Mental health issues rise among UAE kids
Health authorities feel number of youngsters requiring mental health services is under reported
Medical experts urge parents to take action instead of neglecting such cases.
Mental health disorders among children and adolescents is a soaring health issue in the UAE, yet healthcare professionals believe parents often neglect the illness calling it “a taboo topic.” Leading child psychiatrists and psychologists are thus urging parents to take quick action and in some instances turn to behavioural therapies, prior to drugs.
Mental health in children and adolescents is characterised by a wide range of disorders, including, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, anxiety and stress-related disorders, personality disorders and psychosis.
Services related to mental health have been identified as one of the top five capacity gaps affecting the UAE. The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (Haad) anticipates that the number of people requiring mental health services is under reported.
In 2012, the percentage visits to child psychiatry clinic SKMC reveals that ADHD/ADD/disruptive behaviours mounted to 49 per cent. While anxiety disorders hit nine per cent, autism spectrum hit eight per cent, mental retardation, seven per cent, language and learning disorders also at seven per cent, depression at four per cent, psychotic disorders at four per cent, genetic disorders at one per cent and other diagnosis at five per cent.
Furthermore, a study from 12 Seha hospitals in Abu Dhabi revealed that in 2013, 1,301 of children’s mental illness cases received were ADHD.
As many as 435 young patients had language speech disorders, 329 were mentally retarded, 288 had autism spectrum disorders, 233 learning disabilities, 207 conduct disorders, 63 in anxiety disorders, 27 bipolar, 20 in enuresis, 18 tics and movement disorders, 11 depressive disorders and 14 in other psychiatric illnesses.
Moreover, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 10 to 20 per cent of children and adolescents experience mental disorders globally. Yet, evidence suggests many parents do not seek intervention for their ill child due to the social stigma associated with mental health disorders.
UAE healthcare experts thus urge parents to ignore the stigma, not their child, while noting that the onus is on society to stop stigmatising mental health disorders.
Naser Al Riyami, Psychologist and Hypnotherapist, told Khaleej
Times that parents must abandon social stigmas and take swift action, as conditions can worsen if left untreated.
“Many cultures often assume behavioural or mental disorders are due to some sort of possession, lack or faith, or black magic.”
“In medicine, specifically in psychiatry, we diagnose behavioural problems, emotional problems and thinking errors based on a specific criteria laid out in the DSM, which is the American Psychiatric Asso-
We have see a significant reduction in symptoms through proper management, which may include, restructuring the child’s environment
Naser Al Riyami,
Psychologist and Hypnotherapist
ciation’s Diagnostic Statistic Manual of mental disorders, or the ICD.” Al Riyami highlighted that the most common age groups for children with mental health disease are seven and 14-17, also noting that he has even received patients as young as two.
He pointed out that it’s crucial
Mental illness is a taboo in many countries. There is a stigma about possession and ‘jinn,’ that’s why therapy is vital. It’s important that we change our attitude
Dr Dolly Habbal
Clinical Psychologist
for parents to seek advice from healthcare professionals who can recommend what the child needs.
Cognitive academic interventions, speech and occupational therapy, social skills training and applied behavioural analysis, have all been proven to help those suffering with mental and developmental diseases.
There is a resistance to seeking help, parents would almost deny it, until the problem becomes undeniable.... Early intervention will have better outcome
Dr Khaled Kadry,
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
“We have see a significant reduction in symptoms through proper management, which may include, restructuring the child’s environment at home and school.”
“Furthermore, there are nutritional therapies that provide vitamins rather than drugs. Also, it’s important to consider the diet of the child.” He noted that in psychological/cognitive therapies, experts would deal with the child’s thoughts and belief systems, or changing behaviours and habits, known as cognitive behavioural therapy.
Al Riyami highlighted that a specific programme he used on his patients, known as Goulding sleep-talk has shown a positive outcome. “This method builds emotional resilience in children, it’s simple, it’s effective, it’s fast.”
“I teach parents to apply the programme to their child half an hour after their sleep, it takes two minutes a night and has been used by healthcare practitioners for over 30 years.”
He highlighted that approximately out of every 10 patients he receives, eight can be treated naturally without medication, particularly those suffering from mood and behavioural disorders.
“Drugs are not a standalone remedy, the people taking the medication consider it a standalone treatment, but that’s not the case.” Dr Dolly Habbal — PHD Clinical Psychologist at Universal Hospital, said social stigmas must be conquered and insists parents to be vigilant when it comes to their child’s mental state. “Mental illness is a taboo in many countries, there is a stigma about possession and ‘jinn,’ that’s why therapy is vital. It’s important that we change one’s attitude on this issue.”
“Children might suffer from hallucinations, but parents often take them to be prayed on. However, parents soon realise the symptoms don’t improve and finally seek advice from healthcare professionals.”
Dr Habbal noted that the most common age groups she receives are children between 4 and 12, adding. “We work close with the parents because children don’t communicate right away.”
However, she stated that in the UAE, there is a growing trend of parents seeking professional treatments for their children, due to the dynamic awareness initiatives on mental health disease. Dr Khaled Kadry, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Lead Clinician for the Maudsley Child and Adolescent International Abu Dhabi, said that part of the difficulties in mental health disease is the stigma itself, thus raising awareness is critical.
“There is a resistance to seeking help, parents would almost deny it, until the problem becomes undeniable.” “Some of the work is systemic, so we work with parents and special education needs coordinators. There is also the Bio-Psycho-Social Model, which involves medication, therapies and the social environment of the child.”
Dr Kadry, who is one of the two psychiatrists in Abu Dhabi specialising in children’s mental health, pointed out that the service takes evidence-based interventions.
“Early intervention and detection has better outcome for both the parents and the child.”
Nahed Kishta, a mother of three, told Khaleej Times that it’s vital for parents to look out for symptoms in their children, while noting that natural treatments have dynamically helped her own child.
She said that her seven-year-old boy’s hyperactivity rapidly improved after only one month of the sleep talk programme.
“I can see a great change between my son a month ago and today, even his teacher is surprised. He started to love studying and is working on his own.” “It has even given my boy great confidence and self esteem. He is constantly verbalising his love for me, something I haven’t see before.”