Is There A Mental Health Stigma Among U.A.E. Top Executives?

Dean Pollard, General Manager at Bupa Global Middle East & Asia, explores the topic of mental health and the stigma that could be preventing top executives seeking help.

employers and organizations signpost support and coping strategies that can help ease this burden.

Muniversal issue. And just like lots of other diseases, it is nondiscriminatory, affecting anyone regardless of wealth or social status. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in eight people globally has a diagnosable mental health condition.

The COVID-19 pandemic created a global crisis for mental health, fuelling short- and longterm stresses and undermining the wellbeing of millions. Now, as we face the aftermath of this crisis, a question begs: is there still a stigma surrounding mental health?

A Call for Help

Admitting to a mental health condition is often more difficult than confessing to having financial or addiction problems. There are huge numbers of people living with symptoms of poor mental health who have not crossed the threshold of distress that would lead to diagnosis. It is essential, therefore, that

The Bupa Global 2022 Executive Wellbeing Index revealed that the U.A.E. had the third highest levels of mental distress globally, with 94% of top executives in the country having experienced symptoms of poor mental health, and a significantly lower number seeking professional help (17%). The latter is a significant reduction from last year’s Bupa Global data, which found that 68% had spoken to a doctor or professional about their mental health.

Campaign for Change

The reduction in the number of executives seeking help could be down to the mental health stigma, which extends beyond borders. In 2009, the U.K. launched the ‘Time to Change Campaign’—one of the most ambitious campaigns to tackle mental health stigma to date, reaching 30 million adults in a bid to increase public awareness. Yet, while deemed a success at the time, the campaign ended in 2012.

Meanwhile, the U.A.E. has led several initiatives to dispel any stigma associated with mental health. Abu Dhabi’s Istijaba helpline connecting callers seeking therapy with licensed specialists is just one of the successful schemes providing confidential support to individuals. In Dubai, the government also set up the Dubai Digital Wellbeing Council which has enlisted the help of social media networks to offer in-app mental health portals.

Healthy Minds for a Healthy Economy

Solving this issue around mental health stigma is not only in the interest of improving the long-term health of individuals, but also of the wider economy, as these individuals are often key decision makers in society.

When it comes to mental health, early diagnosis and treatment can lead to much better outcomes, so it is crucial that U.A.E. business leaders work proactively now to address any issues affecting their personal or professional lives, rather than when a crisis hits.

There have been huge developments around mental health, but there is still a long way to go. Until mental illness is ‘normalized’ and treated like any other physical disease, the stigma will continue to exist.