Next week marks five years since the death of Louis Smith, a bright, popular 15-year-old student at the British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi who took his own life.
Louis had been loved at home and school and showed no indication of suffering from depression. As his parents Lisa and Ross have said in interviews with this newspaper since that day, December 14, 2013, there were no warning signs.
My own family exists in part of the same orbit as Louis’s and the last time I remember seeing him was at a sixth form open evening a few weeks before his death. Louis was standing with his parents; we were there with our eldest son, as hundreds of students and their families milled around in the school hall, waiting to speak to teachers about life in sixth form. We chatted briefly about A Level options and our respective plans for the upcoming holidays before being pushed by the tide to our next meetings. I can’t tell you how often I have thought about that evening in the years since Louis’s death and how it is impossible to reconcile it with what happened only days later.
Over the years, his parents have spoken eloquently about Louis and his legacy. They deserve great praise for this. Despite the obvious pain they have endured, they continue to work to develop solutions for young people in the UAE. In the weeks after his death, they co-founded the Louis Smith Foundation. Their objective was to establish a telephone helpline to provide a "safe space" for teenagers to call when they don't want to confide in their parents or friends. They are working with the relevant authorities to bring their vision to reality.
They are committed to completing their mission because, as they said a few years ago: "Teen suicide is a growing problem all over the world, and it's a problem here too – it's just that nobody wants to talk about it. The statistics are very worrying and we believe they are only the tip of the iceberg." The story of Abhimanyu Sadasivan, a 16-year-old Sharjah resident who took his own life in 2014, could also be cited here. Like Louis, there were no warning signs, save for some anxiety about exams.
These examples highlight the challenges that families and societies face all over the world. While there is much work to be done, there has been progress made in the UAE.
At Government level, the establishment of ministries for happiness and tolerance and, indeed, the appointment of Shamma Al Mazrui as Minister of State for Youth Affairs, make it clear the direction the Government is moving in.
As Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, wrote at the time of those appointments: "Our target is to make happiness a lifestyle in the UAE community as well as the noble goal and supreme objective of the government...The formula is straightforward – national development based on core values, led by youth and focused on a future in which everyone achieves happiness." There is, of course, a strong correlation between happiness, tolerance and healthy communities.
Matching that effort, the country has sought to build a top-class healthcare infrastructure. It should be said that the picture around insurance for mental health provision is sometimes unclear, but it is obvious that there is now greater understanding of such issues within the system and that arrangements are improving. That work must continue.
Other, less formal structures give further hope.
This week, we heard about a "buddy plan" at a school in Dubai. The scheme is designed to promote inclusivity and to ensure pupils do not fall through the cracks. Schools all around the country are developing wellness and mindfulness programmes.
Today, the next Darkness into Light fundraiser event will be held in Abu Dhabi. The voluntary organisation raises funds to support those who cannot afford to see a psychiatrist or psychologist, the cost of which is often not covered by health insurance. All of this is vital progress.
Any discussion about mental health issues in this country tends to be accompanied by a rallying call to break the taboos that surround them. That cry still needs to be heard. These should not be empty words.
We live in an increasingly complex world and the mechanisms that are required to survive in that always-connected, social media-dominated environment are only going to become more difficult to formulate. More and more of us will suffer with depression, anxiety and stress. Communities, societies and governments will need to mitigate those problems together. Even something as simple as stopping to chat with a friend and finding out how they really are can make a difference.
Commenting recently on social media, Louis’s mother Lisa asked those who read her post to wear a flash of orange, his favourite colour, on December 14, as a mark of solidarity for those who have suffered the effects of suicide and depression. It will be my honour to do so next Friday. I hope you will do the same.
Nick March is an assistant editor-in-chief at The National
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More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
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Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
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Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
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Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
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Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
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