Emirates news agency – “International Family Medicine Dubai” discusses mental health issues and primary care

DUBAI, October 26 / WAM / The 9th International Conference and Exhibition on Family Medicine continued its second day at the Dubai World Trade Center, where sessions focused on mental health issues and methods to integrate them into primary care, with the participation of a group of experts and medical specialists inside and outside the country.

Dr Ibtisam Al Bastaki, president of the conference and exhibition, said: “Recently, mental health problems have been increasing around the world, with reports that by 2030 the mental health crisis could cost the global economy up to to 16 trillion dollars “.

Activities on the second day of the conference included a session titled “Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care” chaired by Dr Buthaina Abdullah bin Balila, Head of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Medical Advisor family, and by dr. Nahida Niaz Ahmed, Consultant Psychiatrist in External Therapeutic Services, President of the Health Council, Behavioralism at SEHA and Dr. Ahmed Al Shafei, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Center for Psychiatry and Treatment in the Emirates. in primary care and the link between psychiatry and family medicine through unexplained physical symptoms.

For his part, Dr. Davidot Kotekar, Neurologist Consultant at Kuwait Hospital in Sharjah and Clinical Assistant Professor at Sharjah University, spoke about the latest developments in dementia care, while Dr. Shai Efrati, Director of the Sagol Center for Research and Hyperbaric Therapy at Shamir Medical Center, examined modern means in treating the brain.

According to the World Health Organization, one in seven children in the world suffers from a mental disorder, which makes up 13% of the global rates of these diseases, as depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders have been shown to be among the main causes of mental illness among adolescents What is meant by diagnosis and treatment of mental illness from early age to adulthood, which increases the damage to the physical and mental health of the individual and limits the chances of achieving a healthy lifestyle with age .

The International Family Medicine Conference and Exhibition is organized annually by INDEX Organization for Conferences and Exhibitions, a member of INDEX Holding, and is supported by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Dubai Health Authority, the Global Scientific Alliance for Family Medicine, from the International Federation for Tobacco Control, Dubai Sports Council, International Hospital Federation and International Hospital Association, Emirates Colon and Rectal Surgery and Healthpoint Hospital.

Halima Al-Shamsi