ABU DHABI // Workers are keeping mental health issues from their employers for fear that an admission may harm their careers.
Experts are calling for better strategies to change outdated attitudes to mental health in the workplace and to provide a better way for employees to disclose any medical issues. Dr Deema Sihweil, a psychologist at Carbone Clinic, Dubai, said patients feared telling their employers about a mental illness as it would, they thought, mark them out as weak.
“It is an extremely common occurrence for patients to seek psychological services without informing their employers, for fear of being ostracised, held back from promotions, or even fired,” she said.
Jared Alden, a psychotherapist, said employers often had a “shopper’s mindset”.
“They might think of their workers as easily replaced and thus why bother with an employee that might need accommodating,” said Mr Alden, of the German Neuroscience Centre in Dubai Healthcare City.
“Most people think that depression and anxiety are very hard to treat, when the truth is most things in mental health can be treated very effectively.
Dr Yousef Allaban, medical director at the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology, said many employers misunderstood mental illness.
But Dr Sihweil said not disclosing an illness could inadvertently hamper one’s career.
“Repetitive tardiness, loss of concentration, poor time management, uncontrollable mood swings, physical pain or relationship discord with colleagues may all be signs of psychological distress or problems in one’s personal life,” she said.
“Anything from sleep disturbances to substance abuse or dependence can wreak havoc on one’s ability to perform on the job.”
The World Health Organisation estimates 35 per cent to 45 per cent of absenteeism from work can be attributed to mental health problems.
jbell@thenational.ae
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
