• The 2023 edition of the conference will include speakers from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Uganda, Germany, the UAE, Lebanon, Canada, and Australia

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: In cooperation with the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH), Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), the UAE’s largest healthcare services provider, is set to host the 3rd Abu Dhabi Integrated Mental Health Conference on the 20th and 21st of January 2023 held physically at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

The hosting and launch of the conference and its activities is a consolidation of Abu Dhabi's commitment in positioning itself as a leading healthcare destination. The conference is part of the capital’s efforts towards driving mental health reforms and plans to strengthen strategies for the benefit of the community. The conference will also serve as an international platform to bring together international specialists and key speakers from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Uganda, Germany, the UAE, Lebanon, Canada, and Australia.

The most prominent topics which will be spotlighted at the conference will include the strategies and initiatives launched by Abu Dhabi to promote mental health among all communities. Additionally, the conference will also aim to create an open dialogue on the topics of international mental health care models, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, pediatric mental health, diagnosis and treatment journeys of mental health patients, as well as a number of other topics related to subject.

The one-of-a-kind conference is a part of SEHA’s efforts towards driving mental health reforms across Abu Dhabi and will serve as an international platform to highlight the Emirate’s strategic plans and mental health model of care. The conference’s primary purpose continues to be making mental health more accessible and the event will see an amalgamation of efforts of all parties involved in Abu Dhabi’s health care ecosystem, and which includes prominent government stakeholders, eminent clinical practitioners, academicians, and mental health professionals.  

Dr Nahida Nayaz Ahmed, Consultant Psychiatrist, Chair, Behavioral Health Council, SEHA, and the Mental Health Task Force, Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, said: “We have always believed that mental health support should be made more accessible, and that has been the primary objective of this conference since its inception. This event will encourage vital mental health conversations across a variety of sectors, ultimately benefiting the community we serve.”  

Dr. Nahida also added: “We are immensely proud to work closely on this conference which covers all areas of mental health including - government initiatives, covid-related mental health responses by different nations, latest innovations in medical fields including neuropsychiatry and oncology, and primary care integration. With the intent of examining and exchanging solutions for improving the quality of life for mentally ill patients, we have formulated workshops on a variety of issues such as workplace mental health, in-school mental health, trauma and abuse care, and many other fascinating subjects. In addition, for the very first time in the region, there will be a workshop involving individuals with lived experiences from around the world, who will share their journey to recovery from mental health challenges. We are grateful to the country’s leadership for their continued faith in us and constant support in making mental health the foremost agenda for the government.”

For her part, Her Excellency Hind Al Zaabi, Executive Director of the Healthcare Facilities Sector at the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, said: “Today, more than ever, we realize the importance of building a strong and comprehensive health system that meets the needs of the community, including mental health services. Thanks to the continued support of our wise leadership, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi is committed to achieving its vision to make Abu Dhabi a physically and psychologically healthy society. In order to establish the Emirate as a leading healthcare destination, we continue our endeavors to highlight mental health as synonymous with physical health. Simultaneously, we will work to reduce misconceptions around mental health and encourage the community to adopt a healthy lifestyle. We remain committed in facilitating prevention and early detection of mental health issues to ensure that patients receive comprehensive care at the earliest, thereby allowing them to rejoin society following their treatment.”

Adding an international perspective, the Day One agenda includes sessions highlighting various models of mental health care from around the world. Dr. Simon Stafrace will be delivering a compelling talk on ‘Fixing a Broken Mental Health System in Victoria, Australia’ and Dr. Kirsten Meisinger, Professor Berthold Langguth, and Karla Thorpe will in turn be speaking on mental health models and psychiatric care in USA, Germany, and Canada respectively. Furthermore, a significant portion of the day one agenda has been dedicated to the impact of Covid-19 on mental health and the responses to mental health impact of the pandemic from countries around the world.

Day two of the mental health conference will touch upon Neuropsychiatry with Dr. Asanga Fernando speaking on ‘Integrating New and Emerging Technologies into Practice and Education – Lessons from a Large London Hospital’. Another topic in focus is Primary Care Integration and Psychological Insights with Dr. Cairo Arafat and Jamila AlBraiki stationed to speak on Child Protection Mental Health. Additionally, sessions will touch upon a wide spectrum of topics ranging from mental health at the workplace and impact of conditions such as cancer and infertility to empathy in clinical practice.

Rounding up the conference will be a series of workshops on ‘Domestic Abuse and Trauma Counseling’ and ‘Building Mental Health Resilience in Schools’ to name a few.

In addition to serving as a platform for groundbreaking research in mental health, the conference will serve as an excellent opportunity to expand existing professional networks and meet experts from across the globe and presents an opportunity to build channels between public and regulatory sectors with healthcare providers.

For more information, kindly visit [https://www.adimh.com/index.php] to register for the 3rd Abu Dhabi Integrated Mental Health Conference.

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About SEHA:

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC–SEHA – is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company owns and operates all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

SEHA is a PureHealth asset, the UAE's largest integrated healthcare platform.

SEHA is committed to continuous improvement of customer care to recognized international standards and providing the community with world-class healthcare. SEHA operates 14 hospitals with over 3,000 beds, 70 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centers and 3 blood banks. Its facilities accommodate 117,162 inpatients annually and conduct 43,262 surgeries, as well as treating more than five million outpatients.

SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East with more than 14,000 doctors, nurses, ancillary care, and administrative personnel. Learn more at www.seha.ae