On the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) shared the details about its mental health services aimed at fostering effective smarts systems, as part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. MoHAP's mental health services offer preventive, therapeutic, and mental health rehabilitation services in various innovative ways in addition to enhancing multi-sectoral cooperation to implement the national mental health policy. These services help in improving information systems, developing competent human resources, collecting and utilising statistical data, and conducting additional scientific research in the areas of mental health.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), this year's theme for World Mental Health Day is "Mental Health for All: Greater Investment - Greater Access; Everyone, Everywhere." It is aimed at encouraging the public across the world to take appropriate actions towards the development and strengthening of mental health services in line with the present situations and upcoming crises in the future. 

In line with COVID-19 precautionary procedures, MoHAP has taken proactive steps to develop effective smart systems that offer state-of-the-art mental health services while adhering to privacy and safety policy. These services vary from developing virtual pharmacy services and launching virtual psychiatric clinics to providing remote guidance for psychiatric drugs and medicine home delivery services. Virtual clinics have also been developed by the ministry offering psychosocial rehabilitation programs for troubled patients and other psychological conditions.

At a time when the UAE was struggling to contain the pandemic outbreak, the MoHAP continued its efforts to provide mental health services to the community by assigning home care and support teams for people suffering from chronic conditions in a bid to prevent relapse. The ministry also organised virtual visits program for inpatients to help them meet their near and dear ones. 

Since April 2020, more than 2,112 psychological counseling sessions have been provided by the psychological counseling helpline service "talk, we do hear you." The helpline service has provided essential counseling and psychological support to people across the country, especially those infected with COVID-19 or showed symptoms of the disease, along with hundreds of frontline healthcare workers to ensure their health and wellbeing amid the difficult circumstances. These services were provided by the authorities while keeping all approved safety and quality policy in mind. 

Taking note of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of people, the ministry also formed multidisciplinary teams - which included psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers - providing 24/7 psychiatric emergency services to virus-infected patients, people showing symptoms of the disease, and those in quarantine at MoHAP’s facilities. The Ministry ensured the best international standards and practices while providing these services to the people in need.

Addressing the occasion, Dr.Youssif Al Serkal, Director-General of the Emirates Health Services Corporation, noted that World Mental Health Day provides the perfect opportunity for highlighting the significant efforts taken by the ministry to provide uninterrupted mental health services to people in need amid the COVID-19 crisis.

"The ministry was keen to develop the telepsychiatry and telemental health services through the psychological counseling helpline service and the launch of relevant virtual clinics," Dr Al Serkel said. 

These mental healthcare services are in line with the vision and commitment of MoHAP to achieve professional, social, and psychological empowerment for people across the country. The MoHAP also aims to initiate efforts towards early detection of mental illnesses, spreading awareness about its preventive mental health programs, and developing societal psychological services for children, youngsters and senior citizens, while ensuring the highest standards of the national mental health policy.

Dr. Mona Al Kuwari, Director of the Specialised Care Department, highlighted that in the aftermath of the COVID-19 emergency, the ministry took significant efforts and launched telepsychiatry services in its hospitals and Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital to assist patients in remotely accessing psychiatric services through the smart systems.

"MoHAP has included its telepsychiatry services in the virtual clinic smart app and linked it to "Wareed" health information system so that patients can book a remote appointment with the attending team. The number of psychological counseling via telepsychiatry service has reached about 5672 consultations and treatment sessions from April to October," Dr. Al Kuwari added.

WAM