Minds Matter DXB

28/11/2024

Thank you Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus for the pleasure of being on the Science to Practice panel discussing wellbeing at work. We covered a lot of ground and could have talked all night. Some great initiatives coming through and hopefully we see them grow and develop in UAE workplaces.

23/07/2024

Dubai is launching a 10-part mental health framework, investing Dhs105 million, under the directive of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister.

This initiative aims to help make Dubai the best place to live, work and visit.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments on this new Mental Wealth Framework.

The Mental Health Framework features 10 key initiatives that will be launched over the next five years... The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has unveiled a

27/03/2024

In comparison to women, men are less likely to seek help for their mental health. Men tend not to share how they’re doing. It might be because they worry about people’s reactions if they open up. Does talking equal weakness? Or maybe there is the belief that ‘masculine strength’ is affected?

There are initiatives in Dubai to give men the opportunity to talk and share experiences with other men. Many of these initiatives have been created by men, for men.

And maybe we will help teach the boys and young men in our families, communities and wider society that talking about mental health is a sign of strength.

If you’d like more information on the first aid for mental health courses, drop a message or email annemarie@mindsmatterdxb.com

Suppressed emotions could lead to men seeking temporary hits of dopamine, spiralling into things like binge eating, substance abuse, or reckless behaviour, say exper...

20/03/2024

This video challenges negative assumptions made about people with Down Syndrome - if we reverse our perspective we can reverse the self-fulfilling prophecy, creating more opportunities in our family, communities and society.

Our negative assumptions about people with Down syndrome can lead us to treat them in such a way that these assumptions become reality. In sociology, this is...

08/03/2024

02/02/2024

How has your week been? Are you looking forward to the weekend? Any plans?

I’m asking because Elmo, of The Muppets, asked how everyone was doing on X (formerly Twitter), and it seems many people were in all sorts of turmoil. And I wondered how many of those people had spoken to another person about how they were doing.

A message, call or visit goes a long way – even Cookie Monster and Bert were on hand to offer support.

If we’re all a little bit more ‘Elmo’, we can make a very big difference.

01/02/2024

Interesting morning at Heriot Watt University’s first ever Science to Practice event focusing on well-being at work.

We heard Dr Zoe Fortune and others talk about workplace culture, well-being interventions, return on investment, leadership training and individual responsibility at work.

Looking forward to the next event in May!

26/01/2024

How the TikTok are you?

Social media platforms reach so many and are a great way to destigmatise mental health issues and connect people looking to share their challenges and experiences in a safe, supportive environment. The more we talk, the more we learn and squash the stigma.

I do wonder, however, where people (mostly young people) get their information from. Social media is much more fun and engaging than the independent and professional websites that have evidence-based content. It also leads me to think that sometimes people look for the answer that suits them best, rather than what’s in their best interest. Sharing personal experiences is great, but researched information is accurate and useful. And then we have the darker side of social media, such as the Blue Whale challenges which have led to participants engage in self-harming and su***de.

TikTok is one of the sites (and by no means the only one) that has videos and content created by people without the necessary credentials to diagnose or treat people with mental health conditions. The trend for self-diagnosis and ‘therapeutic’ interventions without the input of a mental health professional means that whatever difficulty being faced is not dealt with in the right way or as quickly as it could be.

Social media is here to stay. It has a great many benefits, just leave the healthcare to the professionals.



https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/therapy-today/2023/april-2023/the-big-issue/

23/01/2024

Physical health and mental health are inextricably connected. Separation of the two often leads to imbalances to health. Parity of esteem is the principle of affording equal value to mental and physical health needs. We are becoming more aware of the link between physical and mental health, we can all do more to bridge the gap and see the whole person.

Click on the article to find out more about the links between serious mental illness and poor physical health.

Learn how to offer personalised support to people with severe mental illness to help them manage long-term physical conditions

21/12/2023

Big news. The UAE Government has issued a Federal Law on mental health.

The law will align best clinical practice in mental health care and protect the rights and dignity of patients.

We hope that this brings together the best care and treatment for all who need it in the UAE.

14/12/2023

A super day spent at Middlesex University(Dubai) facilitating the first aid for mental health course. This enthusiastic group made my day!

If you’re planning next year’s training schedule, get in touch to find out more about first aid for mental health.