Stamping out stigma on mental illness

Dubai: The Community Development Authority (CDA) unveiled details of the Mental Health Awareness Campaign launched in cooperation with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) at a press conference on Sunday.

The six-month-long campaign aims to educate the community about the concept of positive mental health. It also focuses on providing the necessary advice on how to maintain it through spreading awareness in public and private schools, universities and the Mamzar and Al Rashidiya majlises.

The campaign coincides with World Mental Health Day marked by the World Health Organisation on October 10 every year, and will be launched on Saturday at Mirdif City Centre.

Social integration

Khalid Al Kamda, Director General of CDA, said the campaign is an essential step in establishing stronger links between CDA and other concerned government departments to achieve the goals of social integration outlined by CDA.

Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, are widespread. One in every five people experiences a mental disorder in any given year. By 2020, the World Health Organisation estimates that depression will be the second leading cause of premature death or disability worldwide.

Dr Hussain Al Masseih, social expert at CDA, said the campaign will focus on spreading awareness about mental health and correcting misconceptions about mental illness.

"For hundreds of years, mental illnesses have created distrust and fear, and people are reluctant to talk about their concerns, thoughts and feelings fearing the associated stigma," Al Masseih said.

Dr Alya Hamad Bin Ganem Al Merri, Head of Psychiatry Section at Rashid Hospital said: "As part of our Community Mental Health Programme, we began visiting patients in their homes from February 2010. Since then, we have noticed a significant decrease in hospitalisation cases and we continue to receive positive feedback from our patients and their families."