The National Mental Health Helpline has received more than 43,000 calls since its establishment in April 2020 until now. The National Mental Health Helpline, which was established with the support of the Ministry of Public Health and is managed by Hamad Medical Corporation, celebrates three years since its successful launch, as it provides its services free of charge while preserving the confidentiality and privacy of callers. The helpline has fundamentally changed the accessibility of individuals who need specialized mental health support to the services they need, becoming a primary access point for mental health care and treatment in Qatar. Mr. Ian Tully, Leader of the Mental Health and Wellness Priority in the National Health Strategy and Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health Services at Hamad Medical Corporation, said: "Although the COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst for the establishment of the helpline in 2020, the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 has always reflected the importance of mental health and improving access to care.". He added, in a press statement today, that working to raise awareness of the symptoms of mental illness, providing easy and confidential access to psychological support, and integrating physical and mental health care are all factors that have had an effective role in the progress that has been made, and in the level of public confidence in this service that has succeeded. In exceeding all expectations. In turn, Dr. Majid Al-Abdullah, Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director of Mental Health Services at Hamad Medical Corporation, said: "The National Mental Health Helpline was established in Qatar at a time when more and more people were experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was soon noticed that many people were seeking specialized support in a way that ensured They have confidentiality and privacy to help them deal with other forms of mental disorder". He pointed out that the national helpline service provides quick and personalized access to support without fear or anxiety about the social stigma often associated with traditional mental health services. He explained that the service helped many individuals overcome the problems they face, and more specialized support was provided to them, and spared them the need to receive care and treatment for a longer period. Over the three years of the service’s operation, the demographic distribution of the callers remained fairly consistent, as the callers were from a wide range of nationalities, with equal proportions of men and women callers, and most of the callers’ ages ranged between 24 and 35 years. Over time, the descriptions of the reasons for contact have changed and diversified, which has led to a strengthening of the service after the peak periods of the pandemic, as the service is now not limited to early interventions aimed at avoiding deterioration in mental health, but also extends increasingly to include more complex cases. The helpline has four lanes of support, providing assistance to parents with children and adolescents, adults, and the elderly. There is a specific lane for healthcare professionals, where helpline services can be accessed by calling 16000.
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