Stigma originally meant a mark made on the body by pricking or branding. In the past we did this intentionally, for example, by branding the letter F on to a person’s face to mark them as a felon. The convicted would forever wear the shame of their misdeeds, making it very easy for polite society to shun and exclude them. Today’s stigma is not nearly so brutal, but the consequences are similarly damaging. This is especially so when we stigmatise people experiencing mental health problems.
Today we talk about social, rather than physical stigma, and we continue to unjustifiably stigmatise people with psychological disorders. People with such conditions can find themselves being viewed as somehow defective, dangerous, suspect, or perhaps even responsible for their own problems. Such unhelpful attitudes are rapidly falling out of fashion although they continue to exist. A recent article in this newspaper discussed how the fear of social stigma often prevented people from seeking help for mental health problems.
This is particularly problematic when there are many people who could benefit from such help. The widespread prevalence of mental health problems in the Gulf countries is fairly well documented. For example, a study of mental health problems undertaken among more than 1,600 Qatari citizens reported a rate of 13.5 per cent for clinical depression. Those most likely to experience depression were in the age group 18 to 34. They were also those with the highest levels of education. This makes depression a huge challenge for workforce nationalisation.
In the UAE, more than a decade ago now, a large-scale study known as the Al Ain Community Psychiatric Survey was undertaken. This study involved conducting diagnostic interviews with more than 1,300 Emiratis, with a view to determining the prevalence of mental health problems. The study found that the most commonly diagnosed issue was clinical depression, with rates of 2.8 and 10.3 per cent for men and women, respectively. This is one of the most gender skewed ratios reported anywhere in the depression literature. The study’s authors suspect that Emirati men were underreporting.
As social stigma erodes – as it is – people will find it easier to report problems, and actually start seeking help. This then throws up the issue of access to help. For example, in the context of depression in the UAE, how accessible are the most effective, evidence-based, treatments? For some mental health problems – depression included – research suggests that talk-based psychotherapeutic interventions are the most effective means of treating the problem, and more importantly, preventing future relapse. How many qualified psychological therapists do we have? How many do we need? These are undoubtedly strategic questions of national importance.
Many of the UAE’s mental health professionals bemoan the lack of experienced psychologists. I agree, but I would also suggest that all experienced psychologists were once inexperienced, and before that they were students. Both healthcare and educational institutions have a key role to play in increasing the numbers of experienced and culturally competent mental health professionals. How best to prepare the healthcare workforce of tomorrow, today? This is another strategic question of national importance.
In addition to our focus on de-stigmatisation and improving access to psychological therapies, we also have to think about prevention. Public health professionals are right to focus on weight loss and smoking cessation, but they can’t afford to ignore depression, the world’s leading burden of disability. How can we best safeguard the psychological well being of the UAE’s population, and how can we best promote emotional resilience, and who should do this?
It has become a bit of a cliché that our universities are places where we prepare students to perform jobs that don’t even exist yet. I would argue that these are some of those jobs. We need professionals who can prevent the onset of psychological problems and be instrumental in promoting well-being. Given the chronic and recurrent nature of many psychological problems, our national strategies for mental health cannot overemphasise prevention.
Dr Justin Thomas is an associate professor of psychology at Zayed University and author of Psychological Well-Being in the Gulf States
On Twitter: @DrJustinThomas
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Price: On request
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Fulham 0
Aston Villa 3 (Grealish 4', Hourihane 15', Mings 48')
Man of the match: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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