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The Fatima Bint Mubarak Maternal and Childhood Forum on Mental Health, held yesterday, under the auspices of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, President of the General Union of Women, President of the Council for Mothers and Childhood, Senior President of the Family Development Foundation, on messages from UNICEF and the World Health Organization to support mental health.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), participated in pre-recorded messages, in which they highlighted the importance of addressing mental health issues for children, adolescents and caregivers, and advocated the role of the UAE in this area.

For her part, Catherine Russell, in her speech, praised the leadership role of the UAE in developing innovative solutions to support the mental health of children and young people.

She praised the state’s efforts in implementing the psychological first aid package issued by UNICEF and the training programs to increase local capacities.

She said the innovation ecosystem in the UAE has a unique potential to expand the scope of child- and youth-friendly solutions globally, and the forum represents a crucial step to promote initiatives related to children’s mental health. and caregivers to strengthen, expressing her appreciation. for the wise leadership of the UAE in this field and its innovative role in developing effective and sustainable programmes.

For his part, Dr. Tedros emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive support for the mental health of caregivers, especially mothers, highlighting the efforts of the UAE in this context.

He said: “There is no health without mental health.

He said, “Ignoring mothers’ mental health in the prenatal period can lead to serious challenges in child development.”

He called for the integration of mental health services into maternal and child health programs, highlighting the global gap in mental health resources, especially in low-income countries, emphasizing the importance in international cooperation, and at the same time praise the leadership role of the UAE in increasing this cooperation.

It is worth noting that the Fatima Bint Mubarak Forum will return in 2024, after the great success of the first forum in 2016, to emphasize the theme of “mental health and psychosocial well-being,” and it is organized by the Supreme Council. for Mothers and Childhood under the directives of Her Majesty “Mother of the Emirates,” with the aim of providing a broad platform to discuss pressing issues related to the mental health of children and families in the UAE and around the world.

The UAE embodies its continued commitment to supporting the well-being of communities locally and internationally through this forum, which brings together an elite group of experts and decision-makers to raise awareness and find innovative solutions.

The event includes a series of workshops and discussions in various areas related to the mental health of children, adolescents and families.

The forum aims to be a platform to strengthen local and international partnerships, provide solutions based on global best practices, reduce the stigma associated with mental health , raise awareness, and create a supportive environment that contributes to promoting mental health in the Emirati and global society. .

These efforts are in line with the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, who believes it is important to support children, as they are the future of the country, to ensure that they receive the essential support for holistic health development.