Mental Health and Wellbeing in the UK and UAE: Future Opportunities for Collaboration
The UAE-UK Business Council convened a round table of mental health practitioners from both countries to coincide with Arab Health. Read a summary of the event and watch the video below.
The UAE – UK Business Council hosted a webinar on mental health and wellbeing to coincide with Arab Health in Dubai. Moderated by Bradley Jones, Executive Director and Paul Sharkie, Deputy Director of the UAE-UK Business Council, and with a special contribution from Nick Cochrane-Dyet, Chairman of the British Business Group Abu Dhabi and Special Adviser for BP Middle East, the session included leading practitioners from both countries, including Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Dubai Health Authority, Priory Group Middle East, HSBC and Al Jalila Children’s Hospital.
Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, Director of Community Health at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, outlined Abu Dhabi’s reforms in primary health care in relation to mental health with the objective of shifting treatment from hospital-based care to more community-level provision. The new model emphasised the three stages of awareness and prevention, diagnosis and treatment and post-treatment support and reintegration into the community. Dr Omniyat mentioned that Dubai would be hosting the World Mental Health Congress later this year.
Dr Ammar Albanna, Head of Mental Health Centre of Excellence at Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital stressed the importance of early intervention to address child mental healthcare issues due to the profound impact this can have later on in adulthood. One in five children experienced mental health challenges before they reached the age of 14. Dr Ammar agreed that the gap between primary healthcare and specialised services needed to close and, using ADHD as an example, stressed the benefits of appropriate childhood intervention. Whilst significant efforts were being made to balance healthcare provision, stigma and lack of awareness remained as barriers to the general population being able to fully utilise the services on offer.
Adding a UK public healthcare perspective, Jo Fletcher, Managing Director of Maudsley Health, UAE, outlined how it had set up and adapted its business model in the Emirates in partnership with Macani Medical Centre – it was now expanding its outpatient services and moving into specialist areas such as eating disorders. The partnership was established in order to bring international best practice and expertise in the field of mental health and special educational needs to the UAE. Improvements in supported discharge services in Maudsley UK had significantly reduced the length of hospitalisations, and there was enthusiasm for adopting a similar approach in the UAE although there were regulatory and technical barriers that would need to be addressed, and such an approach required a high ratio of staff to patients.
Addressing the challenges of recruiting and retaining skilled mental health practitioners in the UK and UAE, Will Goodwin, Chief Operating Officer, Priory Group Middle East, summarised the challenges in the UK, where there were currently 100,000 NHS vacancies and a requirement for 600 additional psychiatrists and 8000 psychotherapists. Strong CPD provision and links to academia would help retain skilled practitioners. Dr Ramadan Alblooshi, Senior Advisor at Dubai Health Authority, agreed and added that one of the effects of the pandemic to date was the need for a more dynamic and system that was able to accommodate new ways of delivering mental health care. Culture, language, and education (amongst other societal pillars) also needed to adapt to the changing mental health needs of children and adults.
Nicole Whitworth, Regional Head of HR, MENAT for HSBC, outlined how HSBC had enhanced its programme of mental health and wellbeing support to its employees, provide a range of services that were free, easily accessible and anonymous. This week it will launch its Headspace app for employees.
The Q&A session focussed on treating the patient as a client and focussing on wellness rather than illness. The panellists agreed there was significant scope for further research, technology and commercial collaboration between the UK and UAE.
The session was closed by Nick Cochrane-Dyet, Chairman of the British Business Group Abu Dhabi and Special Adviser for BP Middle East. Having lived in the UAE for many years, Nick praised the UAE in the progress that he has seen in his time and indeed, during the 50 years since the nation’s establishment. The UAE had been a pioneer in promoting wellness by appointing a Minister for Happiness five years ago. He closed the session with a quote from the nation’s founding father, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: “My wealth is the happiness of my people.”
