The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai in co-operation with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) officially launched a six-month Mental Health Awareness Campaign during a ceremony held at Mirdiff City Centre yesterday (Saturday).
The launch was attended by Khaled Al Kamda, Director General of CDA and Sheikh Maktoum Bin Butti Al Maktoum, CEO – Social Care Sector at CDA, along with a number of senior management personnel and officials from both CDA and DHA.
The campaign aims at raising community awareness, especially amongst the youth, about the importance of enjoying a balanced mental health, which has a direct impact on economic and social growth. It encourages the use of psychological counseling with the first signs of frustration and depression that indicate a flaw in the mental health of an individual.
“The Mental Health Awareness Campiagn comes in line with CDA’s commitment to the community to educate them about social issues. Mental health is considered as one of the important issues that directly affect the performance and participation of individuals in the society, and is as important as physical health. Positive mental health is an essential element for the safety of the individual and the society; sound individuals are more useful for the society, themselves, and their families,” said Mr Al Kamda.
“Through the six-month campaign, we aim to achieve all the objectives and reach out to the largest possible segments of society. We will introduce an integrated program schedule that includes many educational activities targeting schools and universities in Dubai,” said Sheikh Maktoum.
“The community plays a major role in assisting the patient to be a productive member and families have to provide help by instilling the hope of recovery, and provide appropriate treatment. Patients have all the rights and duties as any other individual in the community, and together we can make a difference to the society at large,” added Sheikh Maktoum.
He stressed that patients can contain the illiness through timely assistance from specialists, and by following a healthy life by avoiding stress factors, setting goals in life and seeking to achieve them, and improving social relations.
At the launch ceremony leaflets were distributed covering aspects such as positive mental health, steps for good mental health, and the means for the treatment of mental illness.
The activities of the Mental Health launch included a performance by the Dubai Police music band, Harley Davidson bikers’ parade, Dubai Drums performance, Martial arts, Yoga, and singing and music performances by students from different schools.
The Mental Health Awareness Campaign coincides with the World Mental Health Day, commemorated by World Health Organisation on October 10.
WAM