A Dubai dad brought back from the "very edge" of suicide has issued a plea for life-saving support to help people emerge from their darkest hour.
Chris Haill, 53, was preparing to end his own life after a decades-long battle with depression when Dubai Police made a dramatic intervention by battering down the door of the villa he was staying in Al Wasl in January.
Worried members of British Dads in Dubai, a social media support group had raised the alarm when Mr Haill posted a goodbye message online.
He has since undergone weeks of counselling and is now campaigning for a 24-hour telephone support line to help others facing mental turmoil.
A helpline could be life-saving
“I want this issue to be in the public domain, and embraced,” said Mr Haill, who has fought the debilitating effects of daily depression for more than 30 years.
“No one wants to die, but I could not see any other way out.
“I thought everyone would be better off without me, including my 21-year-old son.
“I sent a message saying goodbye and then turned off my phone.”
The last thing the media professional remembers following his attempt to hang himself is being surrounded by police after being resuscitated in his room.
He was transferred to Rashid Hospital on January 2 where he spent several days of recovery.
Mr Haill, who was homeless and dealing with a relationship break-up, praised police who not only saved his life but have since offered daily support.
A national emergency phone line with access to a trained, sympathetic voice could have talked him out of his suicide attempt, he said.
“If I had known there was someone I could speak to on the end of the phone, I may not have made that choice,” he said.
“Not everyone will have insurance to cover mental health support so a helpline could be life-saving.
“I went to the very edge, but because I survived I feel I have to do something positive.”
Mr Haill is in discussion to establish a foundation offering mental health support initiatives.
Meanwhile, the Al Jalila Foundation is building a free mental health support network in the UAE and the police 901 number also provides over-the-phone advice.
ICAS International, part of the global AXA Group, operates a global corporate wellbeing programme in more than 200 countries, including the UAE.
The Dubai service was established a decade ago, and is the only local provider offering employees 24/7 access to counselling in English, Arabic, French, Urdu and Hindi.
Psychologists in Lebanon have developed a crisis support line that has received a glut of calls since launching in 2017.
Experts said the service could be replicated in the UAE, with government support.
The Embrace Lifeline is currently the region’s only national suicide hotline.
“We are seeing many changes in the country in that death by suicide is considered more like any other death and having it more accepted,” said Mia Atoui, a clinical psychologist, who co-founded the non-profit organisation.
“But in small areas and more rural areas, we still have that issue of condemnation and stigma.”
Call numbers in Lebanon are increasing each year, with handlers receiving more than 3,000 calls in 2019, double that of 2018.
Recent tensions in Beirut have ratcheted up demand.
The service currently runs for 17 hours a day, but plans are underway to make it a 24-hour call centre by April.
“We would love to bring the Embrace Lifeline to Dubai,” said Ms Atoui.
“We are ready to meet people in the UAE to discuss how this can be taken forward and what the local needs are.
“We need to engage the government and as many stakeholders as possible.”
In 2018, Dubai Police revealed plans to introduce a support hotline as part of a move to decriminalise failed suicide bids and offer help rather than punishment.
New UAE services announced in January will provide community mental health services to improve social, psychological and occupational empowerment of psychiatric patients.
“The Ministry of Health and Prevention has launched a number of mental health-related initiatives to improve the services of this health sector in line with the unified national mental health policy,” said Dr Hussein Abdel Rahman Al-Rand, undersecretary of the ministry’s health centres, at a recent health forum.
“This will ensure the rights of patients with mental illness, through the implementation of highest international standards and systems.”
Results
6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m, Winner: RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Mnasek, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Grand Dubai, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m, Winner: Meqdam, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Cosgrave, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Madkhal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
The Dark Blue Winter Overcoat & Other Stories From the North
Edited and Introduced by Sjón and Ted Hodgkinson
Pushkin Press
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
Results
Women finals: 48kg - Urantsetseg Munkhbat (MGL) bt Distria Krasniqi (KOS); 52kg - Odette Guiffrida (ITA) bt Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS); 57kg - Nora Gjakova (KOS) bt Anastasiia Konkina (Rus)
Men’s finals: 60kg - Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) bt Francisco Garrigos (ESP); 66kg - Vazha Margvelashvili (Geo) bt Yerlan Serikzhanov (KAZ)
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
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The bio
Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales
Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow
Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades
Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus
Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga
Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez
How England have scored their set-piece goals in Russia
Three Penalties
v Panama, Group Stage (Harry Kane)
v Panama, Group Stage (Kane)
v Colombia, Last 16 (Kane)
Four Corners
v Tunisia, Group Stage (Kane, via John Stones header, from Ashley Young corner)
v Tunisia, Group Stage (Kane, via Harry Maguire header, from Kieran Trippier corner)
v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, header, from Trippier corner)
v Sweden, Quarter-Final (Maguire, header, from Young corner)
One Free-Kick
v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, via Jordan Henderson, Kane header, and Raheem Sterling, from Tripper free-kick)
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Tell Me Who I Am
Director: Ed Perkins
Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis
Four stars
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
