ABU DHABI // Aspiring Emirati pilot Rashed Al Hammadi had to quit mental health treatment because of high cost, a lack of facilities close to his home, long wearying drives to Dubai for consultations and the burden of paying for medication.
It also cost him his lifelong dream of taking to the air at the controls of a plane.
Doctors say the UAE needs more psychiatric and rehabilitation services in the public and private sectors with one health professional calling for a tenfold increase in staff numbers.
The 22-year-old from Sharjah started seeing a psychologist in Dubai in 2013 and he was found to be suffering from anxiety and depression.
“The doctor was recommended by the family - my mother, in particular, because she was worried about me,” he said. “She was worried because I was always out of it and in my room. I was always distracted and not engaged with anyone.”
Mr Al Hammadi went online in search of support groups and clinics nearby at first.
“When we couldn’t find anyone, my mum recommended that I go to Dubai to see a doctor”
At the time, Mr Al Hammadi was in a training programme for pilots.
“The managers found out that I was getting psychiatric help and I was removed from the programme. They said I was medically unfit and that I couldn’t become a pilot as long as I was on psychiatric medication. My dream was always to become a pilot and it was pushed aside.
“I don’t think I am reliable and I worry that I might mess up. When you are a pilot, the lives of people are dependent on you and I guess this is safer.”
However, he has since stopped seeing his psychiatrist.
“I’ve been going for two-and-a-half years and its exhausting and too expensive for me. It was an hour-and-a-half drive and I pay Dh600 per session and that doesn’t include the medication.”
The cap on his insurance policy was exceeded a long time ago, Mr Al Hammadi said.
“I also have thiqa but that only covers Abu Dhabi hospitals and I can’t go all the way to Abu Dhabi. I don’t even know where to go now.”
After her battle with depression, 34-year-old Emirati Sarah Al Senaani started a support group.
“I was seeing a psychiatrist but I wanted to talk to someone who was going through the same experience I was going through,” said the Abu Dhabi resident. “I looked online and there were no support groups for depression.”
She launched Ostura, which is Arabic for legend, two years ago and, from only one member, there are now nine in the group who meet regularly to share their experiences and struggles.
“I couldn’t register it because I was told that I had to be a doctor,” Ms Al Senaani said.
The mother of three decided to go ahead with the support group regardless. “You need someone to talk to when you are suffering from depression or any mood problem and this what we do - we talk.”
Last year Ms Al Senaani also started the first workshop to “challenge mood disorders”. The two-week workshop teaches participants painting, mosaic and different types of art.
“I managed to register it and the purpose of the workshop is to challenge your mood disorders and feel better through art.
“Art helped me to combat my depression and I came up with 7 strategies that I believe can help overcome depression. I call them my pearls of happiness.”
The seven are: horseback riding; humanitarian work; art and music; cultural communication and research; tourism; healthy nutrition, and cognitive behavioural therapy.
“No one seems to care or want to admit that they have a mental illness but I don’t care what people say. I care and I want people to know that they are not alone,” said Ms Al Senaani.
salnuwais@thenational.ae
Specs
Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Spec%20sheet
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.