Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the UAE wants to work with governments across the Arab world to raise living standards for all.
He said the UAE seeks to share experience, knowledge and success stories to improve public-sector efficiency and performance, state news agency Wam reported on Saturday.
Mr Gergawi was speaking as a high-level Sudanese delegation visited the UAE to learn about how its Government operates.
Delegates included Osman Abdel Halim, deputy secretary general of the country’s Council of Ministers, and other officials.
They also met Abdulla Lootah, director general of the UAE Cabinet’s Presidency Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs; Mariam Al Hammadi, secretary general of the Cabinet; and Saeed Al Eter, chairman of the UAE Government Media Office and others.
The meetings focused on co-operation between the two countries and the UAE government model in managing the Cabinet’s affairs.
Mr Al Gergawi also hailed the strong relations between the UAE and Sudan dating back to the 1970s.
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Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
