Youngsters in the UAE need to have a platform to openly discuss mental health issues. That’s according to authorities, who have arranged a youth circle on Thursday to mark World Mental Health Day that falls on October 10 every year.
Anxiety disorders, followed by substance abuse, depression, eating disorders and schizophrenia are the top five mental health issues affecting the younger population in the UAE, according to the Institute of Health Metrics Evaluation at Global Disease Burden.
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10, health experts said high stress at work and home, pressures of modern living and financial problems are some of the main triggers for mental health issues. According to them, one in six people suffers from some kind of mental health problem.
The UAE government has a mental health strategy in keeping with Vision 2021. In Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority which has aligned itself with the national agenda goals, has announced an eco-system to ensure that the entire population in the emirate has access to high quality mental health care.