Children with mental health disorders will be evaluated in a nationwide research programme to improve care in schools and increase understanding among teachers.
Research is under way by the Ministry of Health and Prevention to create new care solutions for children with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Children with ADHD often have problems paying attention in class, fidgeting with hands and feet and struggling to complete assigned work.
Symptoms can be difficult to diagnose, with children often passed off as naughty, rather than accepted as having a mental disorder.
The ministry launched a research agenda for 2018-19 to glean a greater understanding of the impact of ADHD in schools, and how teachers can be better educated to spot the signs.
“Research like this was started in the UK 50 years ago, so it is something that is needed to get an accurate reflection of ADHD in the UAE,” said Dr Haneen Jarrar, a child psychologist at the Camali Clinic in Dubai.
“Schools in general are becoming better at realising these children need help but things can always improve.”
Studies aim to determine how common ADHD is in the UAE and how accurately the condition is diagnosed by physicians.
Three research projects began this year and will run until the end of 2019, with specialists, physicians, and researchers collaborating with Al Amal Hospital and the Ministry's Statistics and Research Centre.
“To improve mental health services, the agenda seeks to provide solutions that can detect mental disorders at an early stage,” said Dr Youssef Al Serkal, assistant undersecretary for the ministry’s hospitals sector.
“We will aim to update our statistical databases and promote scientific research through diagnostic surveys and providing care based on best clinical practices.”
Dr Al Serkal said any research carried out would ensure the privacy of child patients and their families.
ADHD occurs when the frontal lobe of the brain that is responsible for planning impulse control and emotional relations is under developed.
About 3-5 per cent of American children are thought to have ADHD, although exact numbers of how many children in the UAE may have the disorder are not available.
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“This research will ensure more patients are identified and treated, enabling them to lead as fulfilling and inclusive lives as possible,” said Dr Walid Abdul-Hamid, psychiatrist and clinical director, at the Priory Wellbeing Centre, Dubai.
“Research has shown children are more at risk of developing ADHD if they have relatives — such as a parent or a sibling — with ADHD or another mental health disorder.”
ADHD is a long-term mental health problem that usually starts in childhood and can continue into adulthood.
At least 25 per cent of children with ADHD will still have symptoms by the age of 30.
Its effects are far-reaching and can negatively impact relationships, work and school performance, in turn leading to low self-esteem and feelings of failure.
Medication can decrease hyperactivity and increase attention.
Ritalin and Dexedrine are common drugs prescribed by doctors, but users have reported side effects including anxiety, insomnia and mild depression.
Speech therapy, occupational therapy and learning support are also offered to children diagnosed with ADHD at the Camali Clinic.
“Currently, a child will be referred to us by the school rather than a GP,” said Dr Jarrar.
“This usually happens when a child is not learning in school, or has problems with attention or aggression.
“We will do an assessment to see if the child’s functioning is affected and may require medication or another course of therapy.”
Medication is closely monitored to ensure a child is not being given too much, or too little dosage and to ensure side effects are not outweighing the benefits.
Results of the nationwide research will be publicly available on the ministry’s website when the work concludes.
“ADHD can be managed and lived with, and should not become a major issue if treated correctly,” Dr Jarrar said.
“We need to teach a child how to function in a school and society.
“Teachers are becoming much better at recognising if a child has a difficulty, rather than just being naughty.”
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At a glance
Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free
Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
