Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Mental health care is increasingly shifting towards earlier intervention, regular follow-up and support through primary care, schools, and workplaces, as specialists stress that problems are often easier to address before they begin affecting multiple areas of a person’s life.
In the UAE, that approach is already being reflected in initiatives that bring mental health support closer to everyday settings, including primary healthcare and digital self-assessment tools.
Dr Elif Celebi Adam, clinical psychologist and co-founder of Belle Vie Therapy and Wellness in Dubai, said stress, anxiety and low mood often develop gradually rather than appearing suddenly.
“Problems are easier to treat while they are still small. When someone comes to see me early, we are working with one difficulty,” Adam told Aletihad.
Adam said early help can also be lighter, sometimes involving a shorter course of sessions focused on practical ways to manage anxiety, while later intervention may require longer treatment and, in some cases, medication.
She said this can be particularly relevant in the UAE, where many people live far from parents, siblings and long-standing friends who might otherwise notice that something is wrong.
“Early intervention does not mean treating every bad day as a disorder. It means acting while a problem is still manageable, and learning your own warning signs so you recognise them sooner,” Adam explained, noting that warning signs are often ordinary, which is why they can be missed.
Changes in sleep, mood, social behaviour, physical symptoms, coping habits and concentration can all be important when they persist for more than a couple of weeks, she added.
“One pattern I see often is the person who is still doing everything, they go to work, look after their family and meet every deadline, yet feel flat and exhausted inside. Because nothing looks wrong from the outside, they wait. High-functioning depression is real, and it deserves care too,” Adam said.
Regular Follow-up
Rita Figueiredo, Licensed Psychologist and Managing Director at Peninsula Psychology, said early intervention gives people the opportunity to seek help before difficulties start taking up more of their lives.
She noted that primary care, schools and workplaces are valuable because they are already part of people’s everyday lives.
“These settings are already part of people's lives, so they offer opportunities to notice difficulties and start a conversation before someone thinks of seeking psychological support,” Figueiredo told Aletihad.
Dr Peyman Mirshahzadeh, psychiatrist at Belle Vie Therapy and Wellness, said many people first seek help through a family doctor rather than a psychiatrist, presenting with physical complaints such as poor sleep, headaches, stomach problems or constant tiredness.
“That visit is one of our best opportunities to notice a mental health concern early,” Mirshahzadeh told Aletihad, pointing to Abu Dhabi, where, according to the Department of Health, 1,930 family physicians have been trained to diagnose and manage common mental health conditions in primary care.
“That means the first conversation can happen in a familiar clinic, without the hesitation some people still feel about seeing a psychiatrist,” he said.
He noted that teachers can also notice changes in children’s behaviour, while workplaces can play a role where managers are able to recognise changes and direct employees towards confidential support.
Mirshahzadeh also stressed that regular follow-up is one of the most important parts of preventing mental health conditions from becoming more severe.
“Many people begin to feel better after a few weeks of treatment and stop coming. But feeling better and being fully well are not the same,” he said.
Regular follow-up can help clinicians adjust treatment, identify early signs of relapse and support longer-term recovery.
“Good mental health care is rarely a single appointment. It is an ongoing relationship, built on trust,” he added.
He also pointed to Abu Dhabi’s TAMM platform, where adults can complete a short mental health self-assessment.
Figueiredo said check-ins and screening are useful when they are connected to proper assessment and care.
“A check-in can give someone space to mention a difficulty, and a validated screening questionnaire can flag symptoms that deserve closer attention,” she said.
For Abu Dhabi, she said a strong preventive system would allow people to access support through familiar services such as family doctors, schools and community services, with clear links to mental health specialists.
She said the training of more than 1,930 family physicians provides a foundation, but the effectiveness of prevention ultimately depends on how easily people can move from a first conversation into ongoing care.
“Over time, we hope to see less untreated distress, less disruption to education and family life, and more lasting recovery,” Figueiredo added.
