Community Mental Health symposium highlights ongoing care during pandemic

Doha: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) recently hosted its sixth Annual Symposium of Community Mental Health Services in Qatar. This year’s theme is “Standing Up for Mental Health: Implications Beyond COVID-19”, which highlights the importance of providing ongoing community-based mental health care during challenging times.

Mahmoud Saleh Al Raisi, Chief of HMC’s Continuing Care Group, said HMC’s Mental Health Service is proud to take a key role in providing a platform for dialogue among stakeholders, particularly around the future development of integrated mental health services in Qatar.  “Mental health and well-being is one of the priority areas in the Qatar’s National Health Strategy 2018-2022, which includes a specific focus on encouraging people to speak openly about mental health in an effort to reduce stigma and encourage early treatment. This symposium provides an important platform for stakeholders to discuss topical issues, including the growing demand for community-based mental health services amidst dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Al Raisi. Iain Tulley, National Lead for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Qatar and CEO of HMC’s Mental Health Service explained that good mental healthcare is based on the effective integration of mental health services.