Live sessions to help UAE residents manage mental health during social isolation

Daily sessions with experts will be broadcast from 8.30pm via the NPHW social media channels

A team of 50 experts in the UAE will offer online counselling to help people deal with mental health issues. Getty

Experts in the UAE are helping people stay mentally and emotionally fit as they face social isolation to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

A campaign by the country's National Programme for Happiness and Well-being (NPHW) has brought together 50 social psychology experts to help people who may be struggling with loneliness and other mental health problems.

As coronavirus cases increase in the country, the Dubai Government imposed tougher restrictions on movement and travel from April 4.

The public are advised to avoid all non-essential travel and stay home.

Under the current circumstances, mental support is a basic need

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said the new rules will last for two weeks and those who breach the order will face strict penalties.

The campaign by NPHW will use social media and live online sessions to broadcast advice on how to stay mentally well during the next two weeks.

“Under the current circumstances, mental support is a basic need, so the NPHW launched this national campaign to meet this vital community requirement,” said Ohoud Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing.

“It aims to help all community members cope with the current challenges by providing them with mental support, leveraging the experience of a group of distinguished experts and mental health professionals.

"The initiative further seeks to promote reassurance, raise awareness and ensure community commitment to support the government efforts aiming to protect people’s health and safety.”

The online support programme consists of three components: there will be daily sessions with mental health experts that will be broadcast from 8.30pm via the NPHW social media channels @HappyUAE; a series of short videos on how to build coping skills and mental resilience will be shown; and virtual support groups offering mental health advice to vulnerable groups such as mothers, students and elderly carers.

"This initiative aims to enhance psycho-social support, promote the spirit of positivity, and provide expert advice, experiences and information to help people deal with the current challenges," said Aziz Al Ameri, executive director of the National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing.

The Ministry of Community Development also launched the Taaluf initiative to offer free family counselling to all UAE residents.

There will be four interactive channels providing support for families to help them during home quarantine, the Ministry said last week.

Residents across the country have also rallied together to support one another in times of crisis.

From waiving rent payments to distributing free hygiene products, Emiratis and UAE residents have come together to counter the coronavirus outbreak with acts of kindness and community strength.

Carrefour shoppers at the parking lot with their groceries at the Yas Mall. Victor Besa / The National

People wearing protective face mask after doing shopping at the Carrefour supermarket in Ibn Battuta mall in Dubai. UAE government told residents to wear facemask and gloves all the times outside the home. Pawan Singh / The National

A grocery shopper with a face mask on at Souk Planet, Khalifa City. Face masks should be worn at all times when outside the home, the UAE government said on Saturday. Victor Besa / The National

People wearing protective face mask after doing shopping at the Carrefour in Discovery Pavilion in Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A delivery driver stacks water to provide to residents in an extremely quiet Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

One of the shopper with protective face mask after doing shopping at the Carrefour supermarket in Ibn Battuta mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 5, 2020. Grocery shoppers with face mask s on at Souk Planet, Khalifa City. Face masks should be worn at all times when outside the home, the UAE government said on Saturday. Victor Besa / The National

A construction worker crosses the street with a mask on at Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Face masks should be worn at all times when outside the home. Victor Besa / The National

A lone Zomato delivery man crosses the Al Bandar overpass at Khalifa City. Victor Besa / The National

The Warner Brothers theme park on Yas Island was temporarily closed during the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

Barriers in place at Sunset Beach near Jumeirah Beach Hotel, during the height of the pandemic. Antonie Robertson / The National

A cleaner drives a street sweeper in Jumeirah, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Pharmacies across the country have seen a spike in sales of face masks. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man prays alone in a car park in Sharjah when mosques, churches and temples were temporarily closed. Antonie Robertson / The National

Lines of taxis sit outside Global Village in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A healthcare worker on her way to work on a gloomy Monday morning at the Al Mushrif area of Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

During the height of the pandemic the RTA closed entrances leading to Al Ras area of Dubai from three main roads and interchanges: Al Musalla, Al Khaleej, and Baniyas Streets. Reem Mohammed / The National

An empty Sunset Beach located between the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man walks, while wearing a mask, to get to work in Dubai during the stay home policy in the UAE. Antonie Robertson / The National .

A man cleans the Barsha Heights welcome sign at the entrance to the neighbourhood in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced increased restrictions on movement in Al Ras area of Dubai for two weeks to facilitate intensified sterilisation procedures in 2020. Reem Mohammed / The National

A sign at Global Village thanking Dubai's heroes. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A man waits on the street with a face mask on outside a restaurant in Barsha Heights in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Facebook page called UAE Fusion Socialites run by Hena Khan, a Dubai resident, encourages some of her 19,658 group members to donate groceries to help those in need.

Worshippers in the country have also come together to pray online and assist those who may be worried about family members.