Doha: The Mental Health Helpline Service has managed 12,500 calls since its launch for the general public and frontline staff. Some 90 % of callers have expressed satisfaction over the service provided, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said.
According to a social media post by the Ministry, 90% of callers have said that they would recommend the service to a friend or relative and 85% said that it was easy to access the helpline.
In collaboration with MoPH, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and Mental Health Service in Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) launched the helpline in April 2020 to provide virtual counselling service to support people suffering from stress or mental disorder as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19.
About 91 % users of the helpline have said that video-consultation technology is an acceptable way to receive health services in the future. To access the helpline, which is available from 7am to 10pm every day, members of the public can telephone the toll free number 16000.
To access services of the Mental Health Helpline Service call 16000, press 2 for English, 3 for HMC Medical Services and 1 for Medical Consultation. The helpline includes a team of experienced mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, social researchers and nursing personnel from various institutions. The team members assess the situation and provide support for callers of four major groups: children, adolescents and their parents; adults; the elderly; and front-line health care workers.
The MoPH also encourages people to talk more openly about their emotional wellbeing and launched a campaign on Sunday, under the theme ‘Are you OK?’
Director of Public Health at MoPH, Dr. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani in a video message said, “Most people with mental health issues manage and solve simple life style changes, but some people may need more support from experts.”
By encouraging people to make a conversation about mental wellbeing, he said, “If you notice that someone you know is behaving differently, it can be that the person is struggling mental health problem.”
Division Chief Women’s Mental Health for Department of Psychiatry at Sidra Medicine, Dr. Felice Watt said that the stigma around mental health is the main challenge for people with psychological distress. “It is not something that we should be ashamed of,” she said.
National Lead for Mental Health and Wellbeing and CEO of the Mental Health Service at HMC, Iain Tulley, said that people experience feelings of stress, anxiety and sadness at some point in life and it is common. “Asking ‘Are You Okay’ in a particular way gives an opportunity to start a convocation with someone struggling with a mental distress,” he said.
