Every May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when the world comes together to shed a light on the importance of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. This month was first inaugurated by Mental Health America (MHA) in 1949, but gained traction the world over and is today marked across the globe. Yet, when it comes to mental health, it can be hard for many to find the support they need, and this is especially true with the Middle East, which has some of the world's highest reports of mental health cases. So, in line with the values of this month, we are shedding light on a few organizations in the region stepping forward to provide necessary mental health services for all.
Aspris is a British-based organization with over 140 years of experience in mental healthcare. In recent years, it has since expanded its operations into the Middle East, with wellness centers located in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its centers offer quality care services and treatments to help clients manage a number of conditions, such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders, panic attacks, stress, sleep problems, and more. In addition, the Abu Dhabi wellness center also specializes in treating specific cases such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), whereas the Dubai center is staffed with specialists trained in handling children's mental health issues, including eating disorders.
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Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (Saudi Arabia)
Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Johns Hopkins Medicine, with the goal of providing mental healthcare in Saudi Arabia. When it comes to mental health, this center will first evaluate patients prior to further checkups, which is then followed with clinical psychology evaluations, which may take up to 6 - 8 hours to complete. Services provided include behavioral health, clinical psychology, community counseling services, psychiatric outpatient services, and social work services.
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Embrace (Lebanon)
Embrace is a reputable organization providing mental healthcare through awareness, advocacy, and mental health service across Lebanon. It does this with emphasis on dignity with core values including respect, integrity, compassion, inclusiveness, accountability, and collaboration. In fact, one of the services that Embrace is known for is the Lifeline, which residents in Lebanon can access for emotional support and suicide prevention by dialing 1564. Due to Lebanon's alarmingly high numbers of mental health issues, Embrace is at the forefront providing much needed help through the Lifeline.