PARADIGMS OF MENTAL HEALTH PUBLIC AWARENESS & MENTAL HEALTH ANTI-STIGMA PROGRAMME
Background
Dr A Abdulwahab is the pioneer of establishing the National Mental Health Public Awareness Service and Mental Health anti-stigma programmes - UAE , 1997.
Based on the Author's principles and dedication to provide mental health knowledge and education to the community in the UAE, aiming to enhance mental health resources and the general well-being of the general community and in keeping with the national policies of providing adequate and high standard of mental health services to the population of the UAE, and also in line with the principles and the guidelines of the Royal College of psychiatrists UK (that everyone needs knowledge to make informed decisions about their health, also enhancing the level of the knowledge among the public with regards to mental health problems to enable to correct the negative attitude of the community and to overcome the stigma associated with mental health.)
Mental Health Anti-Stigma programme
Mental illness can affect anyone!
It blows no age limit, economic status, race, creed or colour.
Medical science has made incredible progress over the last century in helping us to understand and treat mental illness, however many mysteries of how the brain functions remains a puzzle.
Many mental illnesses are probably the result of chemical imbalance in the brain, these substances may be inherited or may develop because of excess stress or substance abuse at times because of unusual behaviour, instead of receiving compassion and acceptance, some people with mental illness may experience hostility, discrimination and stigma.
Unfortunately, the media is partially responsible for much of the misconception, which persists about people with mental illness, such as newspapers and television programmes in particular, which stress a history of mental illness in the background of people who commit crimes or violence. Furthermore, comedians make fun of people with mental illness by using their disabilities as a source of humour. Ironically the media also offers our best hope for helping in eradicating mental health stigma because of its power to educate and influence the public opinion.
General Community & Hospital based Mental Health awareness service and anti-stigma campaign experience
2000-2004 Tawam Hospital & Al Ain Community, UAE
The main components:
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Hospital based mental health awareness service and anti-stigma campaign provided to the mental health service users, Tawam hospital, Al Ain, UAE.
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Community-based mental health awareness service and anti-stigma campaign, Al Ain community, UAE
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Hospital based mental health education activities ( presentations, seminars, Lectures, presentations, workshops etc) provided to the medical staff,medical students, the hospital management. to the general practitioners and other medical staff from different specialities and also to the service management team aimed to promote the mental health awareness and anti-stigma campaign among the medical service providers
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Educational and mental health information activities (presentations, mental health information materials, multimedia and posters presentation etc) delivered to schools, social work services, police, and other official involuntary services
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Publication and distribution of mental health information leaflets, booklets, posters, and other information materials
The first mental health public awareness and anti-stigma campaign & exhibition
April 2001 UAE
In keeping with the national policies of providing adequate and high standards of mental health services to the population of the UAE, and also in line with the principles and guidelines of the Royal College of psychiatrists UK that everyone needs knowledge to make informed decisions about their health, also enhancing the level of knowledge among the public with regards to mental health problems and aiming to correct the negative attitudes of the community and to overcome the stigma associated with mental health.
Dr. A. Abdul Wahab conducted several community mental health education events, exhibitions, workshops for the public and for professionals such as the first mental health national exhibition, UAE April 2001, world Mental health Day (2002). He also conducted several mental health educational seminars and presentations to general practitioners, hospital medical staff and administration, also from the general public and non-medical staff such as social work departments, education, police and private sectors etc, in addition to publication of several public Menntal health information articles, booklets & leaflets .
Mental Health Awareness & Anti-Stigma campaign exhibition - The World Mental Health Day October 2002 (WHO)
Mental Health Awareness Program & Counselling Service based at
the newly established Psycho-Oncology Service (1997-2004)
The National Cancer centre, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain , UAE
The psycho-oncology service was presented by the Author at the Fifth World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, Melbourne, Australia September 2000 and at the second Arabian Gulf medical association conference & Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, UAE October 2000 , and also officially announced in the local English & Arabic media.
The Establishment of The first National Psycho-Oncology services, based at the National Cancer Centre, Tawam Hospital, Al in, UAE (1997)
The core of the psych-Oncology service is to provide assessment Psychiatric treatment, and an intensive psychological therapy, support and mental health education to patients with cancer and their family
The Psycho- Oncology service was established in October 1997.
It was the only service of its kind in the country and probably in the Arab World.
Our statistics showed that about 35% of the referred patients with cancer to our Psycho-Oncology service were suffering from psychiatric morbidity such as anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, psychosis and organic brain disorders.
The Psycho-Oncology service was managed by a consultant psychiatrist (the Author) and delivered by a multidisciplinary team.
Implementation of the Mental health Awareness & Education programme in the newly established addiction service (The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC ), Abu Dhabi, UAE (2001-2002).
The Author was appointed by HH the President of HH the president's Office to lead the establishment of the first addiction service in the Country (The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC ), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
In addition to the Author's primary management and clinical responsibilities, He had instituted the affiliation with the National Addiction Centre, King's College Hospital, London University,UK.
Furthermore, he implemented a mental health awareness & Education programme which was delivered by psychiatrists, psychologists and Nurses to inpatients, day patients with addiction problems, the programme entailed mental health awareness, counselling and education about the addiction problems and also included counselling and support to the patients and families
The Author presentation was conducted at The National Hospital Kuihama Alcoholism Centre which is the largest treatment facility for Alcoholism and Research centre in Japan
