The Mental Health Department of Emirates Health Services (EHS) is organizing a series of events to mark Mental Health Awareness Month to highlight the importance of mental health, raise community awareness of its positive effects and strengthen efforts to improve comprehensive and integrated mental health services for society.

Over the course of the month, the Mental Health Department will highlight its mental health initiatives including smart electronic clinics, health counseling clinics, the ‘Speak we are listening “hotline and patient & health care providers support groups initiative.

Dr. Noor Al Mheiri, Director of Mental Health Department at EHS, said Mental Health Awareness Month was an important opportunity to to promote mental health for all and reduce the discrimination and social exclusion associated with mental health problems through series of public events, campaigns and awareness lectures.

Al Mheiri added that EHS provides comprehensive integrated mental services across the continuum of care. The services are in line with the highest international standards and best practices and employ the latest digital technologies— including virtual care & artificial intelligence applications  — and are supervised by a highly experienced and expert team.

Events and campaigns

Mental Health Awareness Month was launched with a youth circle seminar entitled ‘Mental Health is an Investment in Minds and a Path to Success’ at the Creative Center in Ajman; an awareness campaign on the importance of mental health at the American University of Sharjah and Higher Colleges of Technology in Ras Al Khaimah.

Activities to mark World Mental Health Day took place at Obaidullah Hospital and Al Amal Hospital, Kuwait Hospital Dubai, Kuwait Hospital Sharjah and Al Qassimi Hospital for Women and Children, events included awareness workshops & virtual seminars. The mental health department arranged a workshop on mental health gap intervention program with the World Health Organization and a scientific Conference on Innovation & digital health in Mental Health.

The month will also feature a virtual lecture on the psychological first aid program, workshops entitled ‘How to deal with anxiety’ and ‘Sleep and its Impact on Your Physical and Mental Health’ as well as the launch of the ‘Nasalkom’ for Community Mental Health Initiative.