Advancing psychology to benefit society and improve lives, http://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/other/2014-11-12-1.727351, http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/while-the-stigma-persists-so-too-will-mental-health-issues, http://www.elaph.com/Web/news/2010/12/619159.html, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print/country/countrypdf_ae.pdf, http://www.apa.org/international/pi/2011/10/critical-issues.aspx, http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Global_Competitiveness_Reports/Reports/chapters/2_1.pdf, http://www.gncdubai.com/mental-health-act-needed-uae-national/, http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/atlas/profiles/are_mh_profile.pdf, Call for Papers/Proposals/Nominations (4), © 2020 American Psychological Association. & Bell, J., (2014, October 23). 1(2), 15. Mourshed M., Hediger V., Lambert T.  (2006) Gulf Cooperation Council Health Care: Challenges and Opportunities. Jared Alden, a psychotherapist at the German Neuroscience Centre in Dubai, said there have been improvements in … At the graduate level, only one clinical psychology masters (MSc) program exists, which was recently introduced in UAEU (Haque, 2011). The UAE Psychologist. Filipino psychology in the Third World. It requires a strategy that makes the provision of psychological services a national priority in order for the major educational institutes (e.g. It facilitates free screening for early detection of breast cancer and diabetes to nip the problem in the bud. UAEU, ZU) to collaborate in meeting the shortage of local professionals. Ghubash, R., Hamdi, E., & Bebbington, P. (1992). 1(2), 4. Current professionals are overwhelmed with meeting the demands of teaching or practice, which allows little time for research. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was established on 2 December 1971 as a federation of seven emirate states (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah). Emarat AlYoum. Sinha, D. (1998). The National. Camali Clinic is a nationally recognised multidisciplinary child and adult mental health service in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE. German Journal of Psychiatry, 8(3), 32-35. Haque, A. Journal for International Counselor Education, 4(1), 1. قضايا الصحة النفسية من الممكن أن تكون الاضطرابات الصحية النفسية معقدة و يمكن أن تتخذ أشكالاً عديدة. Scholars in several developing countries around the world like Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan, India and others have endorsed the indigenous psychology approach (Diaz-Guerrero, 1977; Enriquez, 1977; Sinha, 1998; Yang, 1997). A new updated Mental Health Act is needed to keep in line with the UAE’s major leaps achieved in healthcare. Apps such as eEtmenan and Health Heroes facilitate in adopting a healthy lifestyle and preventing non-communicable diseases. Dr Al Hassani was among a team of medical professionals who helped draft an update for the UAE’s Mental Health Act, which he expects to come into effect early next year. This law expiredon September 30, 2001 due to a "sunset" provision, but was extended through December 31, 2002 when Pr… Mental health is no different. The available studies indicate a high prevalence of psychosomatic disorders, depressive disorders and anxiety disorders (Ghubash, Hamdi & Bebbington, 1992; Abou-Saleh, Ghubash & Daradkeh, 2001; Daradkeh, Eapen & Ghubash, 2005) among primary health care attenders. Retrieved from http://7daysindubai.com/news-14031/. Licensing psychology — no closer to a unified system? Kruse, M. (2011). In the UAE, it may be difficult to discuss a mental health issue with close friends or family members. (2012). Abed, A. More mental health specialists are urgently needed in Dubai to cover a growing demand for services, experts have said. Mental health problems in children and help seeking patterns in the UAE. The only well-established public undergraduate program available is in the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) which admits a very limited number of international students. New figures revealed nearly a third of the population of the Dubai emirate – en estimated 1.3 million people – are in need of mental health help. The federal government’s Ministry of Health (MOH) is the official body that manages health care legislation in the country. Changing perspectives in social psychology in India: A journey towards indigenization. The UAE Psychologist. Integration of mental health services into primary care. Retrieved on Feb. 3, 2015, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print/country/countrypdf_ae.pdf (PDF, 177KB). The expected growth in demand for psychological treatment in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is 241 percent (Mourshid, Hediger & Lambert, 2006). Scholars have expressed their concerns about the compatibility of Western therapeutic models with the UAE’s culture and values (Al-Darmaki & Sayed, 2009). Residents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are embracing telemedicine, with virtual-consultations appearing to be increasing in popularity. A Mexican psychology. Central Intelligence Agency. 33 thousand mental patients suffering from shortage of psychotherapists. Our multilingual dynamic team of clinicians deliver comprehensive mental and therapeutic health services for all ages in the UAE and beyond from our clinic in Dubai’s Healthcare City, the Middle East’s premiere medical hub. Another mission of EPA is to serve as a liaison between governmental departments and private sectors to better serve the community. The lack of coordination between higher education institutions and health public sectors will perpetuate a shortage of mental health professionals, forcing the government to import expertise to meet the rising demand for psychotherapy in the UAE. Mental Health AE Health, Wellness and Fitness Dubai, Dubai 356 followers A shared & accepting space for awareness, acceptance & support for Mental Health in the UAE.⁣ Gulf News. 5 Oral & Dental Care: Attitudes towards mental health. According to World Health Organization estimates, in 2002−3 fewer than 1,000 people in the UAE were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. Legal provisions concerning mental health are also covered in The Mental Health Program stimulates the development of an ecosystem that ensures that the population of Dubai have access to high quality care (including prevention and promotion) for mental health conditions, and addresses the social stigma associated with mental health. (2014, November 12). These numbers indicate an extreme shortage of mental health professionals and facilities in the UAE. Crookes, A. The mental health plan was revised in 2010 with emphasis on broader availability of mental health services in the government facilities across the country. I. (2011). Even though some milestones have been made in the development of the psychology field in the UAE, it is still in its initial phase. Data on governmental mental health facilities indicate that there are three outpatient facilities and mental health hospital (WHO, 2011). UAE lacking in mental health services. Expatriate students seeking training in psychology have to enroll in private universities such as Middlesex University Dubai and Herio-Watt University Dubai that also offer undergraduate programs in psychology. To address this challenge, an indigenous movement in psychology has been initiated internationally (Bhawk, 2011, Hwang, 2005). 1(2), 22-23. Bhawuk, D. P. (2011). The field of psychology in the UAE began in the 1970s with the establishment of an undergraduate program in psychology in the United Arab Emirates University. (2011). This is according to new data released by the UAE division of the international telehealth provider, vHealth. Currently an independent mental health policy does not exist, but a mental health plan is included in the general health policy (WHO, 2011). Several practitioners and academics have voiced their concerns and expressed a dire need for mental health legislation (Alshihabi, 2011; Badawi, 2012; Rizvi & Bell, 2014). Despite the population boom, there are concerns that mental health services and the general field of psychology have not matched the country’s expansion, with a resulting increase in the level of unmet need (Saberi, 2010; 7Days, 2013; The National, 2014; Al-Sayed, 2010). For instance, licensing procedures are going to be different from one emirate to another depending on the local authority’s existing guidelines and willingness to get involved (Al-Maseeh, 2013). What constitutes an ‘appropriate psychology’ for the developing world? The population of the UAE is 9.346 million people, with an increase of 2.71 percent annually (Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook, 2014). (32) of 2020 on the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No. Among the local geriatric population, the dominant mental disorders were depression, anxiety and hypochondriasis (Ghubash et al., 2004). Marsella, A. Ghubash, R., El‐Rufaie, O., Zoubeidi, T., Al‐Shboul, Q. M., & Sabri, S. M. (2004). The statistics were released at the Dubai Health Forum on Monday as health professionals discussed a new strategy designed to resolve the … World Health Organization (2011). Finally, current legislative efforts are directed toward psychiatry and clinical psychology, with no consideration of other psychological professions such as counseling or school psychology. In Spirituality and Indian Psychology (pp. DUBAI: While the focus on raising awareness in the UAE on mental health is ever relevant, there is some good news. The National Policy on Vaccination in the United Arab Emirates National Policy for Intellectual Property in the Health Field The National Policy for the Promotion of Mental Health in the United Arab Emirates (2014, November 12). Indigenizing Westernized Chinese psychology. Mental Health job posting site for UAE/Dubai, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Europe, DE, ME / Asia, UK, London, UAE/Dubai, SA, Ireland, India, Canada. Between 1989 and 2008, only 192 studies on mental health were published in the GCC countries. (2014). The 2011 version represents the latest global picture of resources available for mental health. There is a shift toward integrating mental health services into primary care, and allocating more resources to smaller community mental health facilities. “In the UAE, an increase in awareness over the years has resulted in lower levels of stigma associated with the disease, however, we still have a long way to go because at the end of the day it is our aim as healthcare professionals to have a society free from stigma that treats every person with mental health disorders as an individual.” Training psychologists in UAE is very challenging. (4) of 2015 on Private Health Facilities Cabinet Resolution No. Emirates psychological association: A brief introduction. The National. However, the lack of attention to mental health research is a regional phenomenon affecting all of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Mental Health Atlas Country Profiles. UAE Psychologist. The broad definition incorporates many forms, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, eating disorders and schizophrenia, etc. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 1(1), 17-31. The National. Dedicated mental health legislation exists. This Library briefing provides information on mental health policy in England. Practitioners and researchers participating in the movement adopt psychological treatment models that were developed in a bottom-up fashion, rather than being adapted or tweaked from foreign models. Chapter 2.1. While the stigma persists, so too will mental health issues. Badawi, I. The lack of enforced rules of practice have enabled "bogus" psychologists and mental health workers who exploit legal loopholes to operate in the UAE’s market (Bell, 2014). Eapen, V., & Ghubash, R. (2004). 7Days. Experts call for more mental health experts in the UAE. Springer New York. It examines the Coronavirus Act 2020 which provides for temporary changes to the detention and treatment of patients under the Mental Health Act 1983, and the potential impact on human rights. In addition, this research is usually published in English and in international journals and therefore of limited use for practitioners in the UAE. There is a shift toward integrating mental health services into primary care, and allocating more resources to smaller community mental health facilities. We believe everyone should have access to quality care, so our clinic is open to all who seek wellness. The licensure can be obtained with a master level education or even with undergraduate degree and a few years of experience. Mental Health Matters Day (MHMD) will be held virtually on November 10, 2020, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time. The UAE promotes good health and well-being by making insurance mandatory in the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so far. (2012). Troubled minds in the Gulf: mental health research in the United Arab Emirates (1989-2008). Cabinet Resolution No. (2012). The UAE Psychologist. Researchers who are interested in conducting research within the field of psychology are mainly academicians whose motivation oftentimes for conducting research is to get promoted. Twelve critical issues for mental health professionals working with ethno-culturally diverse populations. In 2017, the UAE adopted the National Policy for the Promotion of Mental Health, which identified major strategic objectives that include improving the effectiveness of leadership in the mental health field, developing, enhancing and expanding the scope of comprehensive, integrated, needs-responsive mental health services for all community groups and ages, as well as strengthening multi-sectoral cooperation to implement Mental Health Promotion Policy. In case you require any medical assistance, please feel free to contact us on +971 4 429 4000 at any time mentioned on the back of your medical card. A panel of professionals from Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Ministry of Health (MOH), Emirates Psychological Association and other institutes are currently working on regulation guidelines for the practice of psychology (UAE Psychologist, 2012). 2(2), 5. Obesity is a growing health concern with health officials stating that obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE suffers from extreme deficiency in mental health facilities. Retrieved on February 3, 2015, from http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/while-the-stigma-persists-so-too-will-mental-health-issues. Therefore, there is an ongoing reliance on Western frameworks in providing mental health care and education. Find your product type on your Healthcare Membership Card and download your Health Policy Documents here. The importance of such dialogue stems from the urgent need to address mental health policy and services, as mental health issues are predicted to increase with time. (2014, January 25). 7days. The Emirates Psychological Association (EPA) was established in 2003 in Dubai by the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kruse, 2011). The UAE Psychologist. In M. H. Bond, Working at the interface of cultures: Eighteen lives in social science (pp. Most of the Emiratis who provide psychological services in schools and in the community mental health agencies have minimal training in applied psychology. Almazroui, A. Developing counselor education identity in UAE: Evaluation of an undergraduate program. Thus, their research activities may not relate directly to need of the country. Wise Mind Center provides a welcoming, friendly and non-judgmental environment to help clients get started on their journey towards mental health recovery. Al-Darmaki, F., & Sayed, M. A. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 36(1), 20-28. In 1996 a federal parity amendment was signed into law as part of the VA-HUD appropriations bill. The UAE Government has also set up centrally funded services, including a mental health helpline manned by over 30 specialists made up of counsellors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. The sooner, the better, the cheaper. There are 25 beds reserved for psychiatric patients in the general hospitals, and 80 beds available in the specialized mental hospital. This is due to the fact that UAEU is a federal institution funded by the government. 185-202). (2013, April 2013). Daradkeh, T. K., Eapen, V., & Ghubash, R. (2005). Thanks for letting us know that this page . Recent reports indicate that there are approximately 33,000 mental patients in the country, and new admissions to public facilities are put on waiting lists that can go up to two months (Abed, 2014). The world factbook: UAE. 1(2), 12-13. Most of those researchers are non-Emiratis who may not be culturally aware of issues that should be investigated. AlShihabi, R. (2011). Presently, licensure is obtained from governmental health entities such as the Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD), DHA and MOH. The data on the number of counselors is unavailable. This is because of the shame that is traditionally associated with mental health illness in Arab culture. Retrieved on Feb. 3, 2015, from http://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/other/2014-11-12-1.727351 [In Arabic]. The UAE Psychologist. EPA’s mission is to raise awareness of mental health issues in the Emirates and to advocate for the public’s access to mental health services. The practice of providing psychological services such as counseling and psychotherapy remains loosely regulated by the authorities. Fatima Al-Darmaki, PhD, and Saad Ibrahim Yaaqeib provide an overview of the current state of psychological and mental health services in the UAE.