He called for changing the name of psychiatric clinics to "community health".

A parliamentary proposal to place “psychiatrists” in schools

• Al-Naqbi assured the Council that the distance to the people of the area negatively affects the completion of treatment.

  archival

• Shatha Al-Naqbi: "The reality confirms the need for more hospitals and specialized medical centers, especially in Khorfakkan and Kalba."

picture

Member of the Federal National Council, Shatha Saeed Al-Naqbi, submitted a parliamentary proposal to the Minister of Health and Community Protection, Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad Al-Owais, to change the name of “psychiatric clinics” to become “community health clinics,” explaining that “this procedure would address the phenomenon of mental patients refusing to receive medical treatment.” Psychotherapy, as a result of fear of society, or what is known as societal stigma.

It also suggested placing psychiatrists in schools, obligating children to visit them during school stages for periodic follow-up, and educating the community about the importance of mental health.

In detail, a member of the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee in the Federal National Council, Shatha Saeed Al-Naqbi, confirmed the existence of a noticeable shortage of cadres specialized in the fields of mental health, and their insufficiency for the increasing number of mental patients in the country, pointing to the existence of a disparity in the distribution of mental health services at the level of health facilities. As a result, some patients did not receive psychiatric services, and increased pressure on mental health units in other hospitals.

Al-Naqbi informed "Emirates Today" that she presented to the Minister of Health and Community Protection, during her intervention in the last council session, the results of field monitoring, which indicated that psychiatric services are concentrated in nine hospitals distributed over the emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.

The hospitals are Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Obaidullah for the elderly, Al Qasimi, Al Qasimi for women and childbirth, Al Kuwait in Sharjah, Masafi, Shaam, Al Amal, in addition to clinics for community mental health services. In five health centers provided by psychiatrists, including three smart clinics that connect family doctors in the center with psychiatrists at Al Amal Hospital (Al Khazan in Umm Al Quwain, Al Madinah in Fujairah, Al Hamidiyah in Ajman), and providing three specialized services.

Al-Naqbi said: "Although this number of treatment centers reflects the ministry's efforts to promote mental health in the community, the reality confirms the need for more hospitals and specialized medical centers, especially in areas such as the eastern region of Khorfakkan and Kalba, whose people suffer because of remoteness." The centers are left behind, and they are in dire need either to build a hospital specialized in psychiatry to serve the region, or to allocate beds in the general hospital under the supervision of a team specialized in psychiatry.”

She stressed that "hypnotizing psychiatric patients near their families will have a significant positive effect on treatment."

She added, "There are 276 beds available at Al-Amal Hospital, of which 190 are active.

But the distance remains for the people of the region to have a great impact on completing the treatment,” she suggested, suggesting upgrading the psychiatric services in Khorfakkan Hospital from outpatient clinics only to a “day care center”, through a multidisciplinary and expert team consisting of a psychiatrist, psychologist, specialist Social worker, occupational therapist, psychiatric nurse and volunteers.

Al-Naqbi called for an increase in specialized nursing cadres, improving their salaries and adding a hazard allowance to them, as they are vulnerable to injuries and violence from dangerous cases, pointing out that "financial and job incentives would attract young people to work in this sector."

She said that she had submitted to the minister three parliamentary proposals that would contribute to promoting mental and behavioral health among members of society of all ages and levels, and reducing the phenomenon of fear of psychological treatment, known as “community stigma”. A psychiatrist in schools, while making children’s visits to him mandatory, “to urge and rehabilitate the community to accept the presence of a psychiatrist and social worker, and to enhance our children’s confidence in presenting their behavioral and psychological problems, and treating them from a young age.”

As for the second proposal, it is cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the relevant government agencies, to organize psychological and behavioral health courses in schools and workplaces, with the aim of reducing the phenomenon of “social stigma” and spreading positive energy in society.

Finally, changing the name of “psychiatric clinics” to “community health clinics” to address societal stigma.

• Changing the name of psychiatric clinics helps to address the phenomenon of treatment refusal.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news