In a strategic step to promote mental health in the country, the Emirates Health Services Corporation today launched the activities of the third edition of the Mental Health Conference in cooperation with the international Maudsley Health Foundation, over two days under the slogan “Empathy-Based Innovation: We Create the Future of Mental Health,” in University of Sharjah.
The conference coincides with the launch of the Mental Health Month activities by the Emirates Health Services Corporation, and aims to emphasize the importance of integrating the values of human compassion with the latest technological innovations to provide innovative solutions that enhance mental health and quality of life, with the participation of an elite group of doctors, psychologists, and specialists in the field of mental health from various sectors. around the world.
His Excellency Dr. Issam Al Zarouni, Executive Director of the Medical Services Sector at the Emirates Health Services Corporation, confirmed that the UAE, thanks to the vision of its wise leadership, is moving steadily towards enhancing mental health through integrated policies and strategies aimed at providing comprehensive and sustainable health care, where the organization of this conference comes. In line with the National Strategy for Quality of Life 2031, the “We Are the Emirates” Vision 2031, and the UAE Centennial 2071.
For her part, Dr. Nour Al Muhairi, Director of the Mental Health Department, explained that mental health constitutes an integral part of the individual’s general health, and an essential axis for achieving societal balance, and from here comes the Foundation’s interest in developing mental health services by adopting modern innovations and technologies, which contributes to Providing proactive solutions to confront psychological challenges, stressing that the conference constitutes an important platform for exchanging expertise and experiences between specialists at the local and international levels.
In turn, Dr. Ammar Al-Banna, Director of Al-Amal Hospital for Mental Health, stressed the vital role that the mental health conference plays in supporting national efforts and achieving a comprehensive transformation in mental health services by discussing treatment plans and preventive programs that contribute to enhancing the psychological well-being of individuals and improving their levels of happiness and positivity. This ensures the building of balanced societies capable of dealing with various challenges, and consolidates the UAE’s position as a global destination for providing leading and sustainable mental health services.
The conference presented a rich program of dialogue sessions and workshops, discussing the most prominent issues and future areas in this vital sector, including “stages of development of psychosis” and “mental health in infants and women before and after birth.” It also includes a dialogue session on the topic “ The modern approach to treating addiction in young people,” a special symposium on “pharmacopsychology,” and a scientific debate among experts to discuss “the possibility of artificial intelligence replacing the psychologist.”