MoHAP organises workshop for GDRFA

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) recently organised a workshop for the employees of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) on how to deal with the mental health needs of GDRFA’s residents.

The workshop targeted the Head of GDRFA’s Women Department, violators shelter centre and Head of GRDFA’s Residents Health Affairs Follow Up.

The workshop aims to train and qualify GDRFA’s staff on dealing with various psychiatric conditions of GDRFA’s residents and educate them through a forensic psychiatrist from Al Amal Hospital, Dubai, in case the resident is experiencing mental illness.

Also, the event focused on the importance of taking part in the awareness workshops held by police stations, penal establishments for further knowledge about law and mental illnesses, in addition to learning more about the best methods to deal with mental patients.

Furthermore, addressing the various diagnostics of mental illnesses as per global classifications was one of the workshop pillars.

The Importance of Forensic Psychiatry

Dr. Adel Kerani, Director of Al Amal Hospital, stressed the importance of cooperation between government authorities to promote mental health among members of the community.

He explained that this workshop underpins continuous professional development programmes, following the establishment of Al Aml Hospital’s Forensic Psychiatry Department.

“The new department has particular importance in terms of regulating the evaluation mechanism of cases with mental illnesses at police stations and penal establishments, in addition to understanding and fulfilling the mental health needs of the residents in those places.

National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)

Dr Kerani pointed to the importance of the mental health services provided by Al Amal Hospital with a view to minimising the patient’s chance of relapse, and empowering them socially, psychologically and professionally.

“Our ultimate goal is to promote mental health in the UAE and enhance mental health programmes in line with the NMHP, through the provision of high quality psychological, therapeutic and rehabilitation services, as well as developing psychological services community and fostering psychiatric care services remotely,” said Dr Kerani.