‘Desperate need’ for child mental health centre in UAE, says doctor

Experts call for more child psychiatry services across the UAE ahead of the 3rd International Child Mental and Behavioural Health conference.

ABU DHABI // There is no inpatient centre for children and adolescents with mental health problems in the UAE – but it is urgently required, a leading child psychiatrist warns.

“It is desperately needed,” said Dr Ahmad Almai, head of child and adolescent psychiatry at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

“Intervention early on can prevent complications. It can mean the difference between having a healthy life and future and having lifelong suffering.”

Getting the right kind of treatment – especially for more severe conditions such as bipolar and eating disorders, depression and schizophrenia – can make a difference to the child’s life and that of their family, he said. “Having a child with mental illness can tear apart families,” said Dr Almai.

“Treating that child makes a big difference to the child’s life. He or she he can grow up to be a participating member of society and it can have a big effect of the environment of that family.

“It could mean the difference between divorce or having a healthy relationship between the parents.”

Dr Almai will be speaking at third International Child Mental and Behavioural Health conference, which takes place today and tomorrow at the Park Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

“This conference is meant to provide a venue for all providers of mental-health services, particularly in the UAE, to collaborate and coordinate services and really spread awareness about child mental health and children with special needs,” he said.

“Demand enormously outstrips supply. There are many children out there who have demands that could be met.

“There is a need for more expertise, more collaboration, which is lacking here.”

Mental health is often seen as a weakness, or a personality or character issue, Dr Almai said.

“However, it can be genetic and it is familiar, and people need to understand that.”