Mental Health System Development in the UAE

Abstract

The UAE is a fast-developing country that is embracing scientific progress in all areas, especially in relation to health. However, the stigma of the word “mental” comes in the way of mental health program development. Studies show that traditional methods of understanding and treating mental health are still quite strong in the UAE (Gerstein, Heppner, Aegisdottir, Alvin Leung & Norsworthy, 2009; Chowdhury, 2011) and that mental health issues are rising and may reach epidemic proportions by the year 2020 (Hurley, 1999; WHO, 2011). According to some studies, 75% of psychological conditions in the country are related to anxiety and depression (Mesbah, 2009) and that stigma often leads to late diagnosis of psychiatric disorders (Zaman, 2011). A recent article suggests that there is still the belief that mental health is contagious and that this deters locals from seeking psychological or psychiatric help and discourages them from joining the field of mental health (Butcher, 2013). McMeans (2008) reported that many people in the UAE are reluctant to seek help or be involved in the mental health field as a profession for reasons including stigma and lack of knowledge about what mental health care really means. This attitude has led to severe deficiency in experts operating in the field and contributes to slow growth in the development of mental health standards, quality control, and availability of professional services.