As UAE residents face a time of uncertainty amid regional conflict, several mental health clinics, certified individuals and medical providers have started offering free support to those struggling.
Here are some resources to call on.
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Mental healthSakina
The Department of Health Abu Dhabi has launched a 24/7 mental health support hotline in association with Sakina, a dedicated mental health platform in Abu Dhabi, to help residents at this time of regional instability. Authorities are encouraging anyone who’s struggling to reach out and seek help, as they’re offering confidential psychological support via qualified mental health professionals over the phone at 800 725 462.
Aster DM Healthcare
Over the next three days, Aster DM Healthcare is offering online mental well-being video consultations with licensed psychologists through the myAster app. These are available to book from your home and accessible across the UAE.
www.asterdmhealthcare.com
Justlife
The UAE’s superapp, which offers everything from babysitting to handyman services and cleaning, has launched free online therapy sessions (limited to 20 minutes) for anyone who feels they need additional support right now. The sessions are fully confidential and available through the app or on the website.
www.justlife.com
Lighthouse Arabia
The well-known mental health clinic in Dubai has been organising free online sessions for its community, such as one on navigating ongoing uncertainty and heightened stress, as well as a parenting workshop with a live question-and-answer session the same day. It is offering practical, research-backed tools to help people regulate. Keep an eye on the events section on their website for more coming up.
www.lighthousearabia.com
MedicoArabia
This medical tourism services platform has also launched a free 24/7 mental health helpline this week, offering “safe, confidential support for anyone experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, trauma or overwhelming thoughts”. It is offering access to licensed professionals trained in trauma-informed counselling via audio or text consultations. There is crisis support and referral pathways, as well as multilingual assistance across the UAE. You can call 056 900 5443 or 050 159 0070.
Sage Clinics
On Monday and Tuesday, Sage Clinics in Dubai organised free live online support sessions in English and Arabic for adults. These offer support during periods of uncertainty informed by psychological first aid frameworks used in crisis and emergency contexts and they’ve run sessions for parents, educators, high school students and adults so far. They’re all free of charge. Email appointments@sage-clinics.com or call 04 575 5684 for more information on coming sessions.
FamilyFirst Medical Centre
An interactive session on supporting children through stress and uncertainty was hosted by this Dubai centre on Tuesday at 11am. Led by educational psychologist Sthee Mnguni, it included practical, evidence-based strategies to help children feel safe and supported during this time. Call 04 378 5555 for more information on other sessions coming up.
Meditation, breathing and moreSeva Experience
The holistic wellness centre, shop and cafe is open and offering people a place to ground themselves in turbulent times. This includes offering free sessions to the community, including a Kundalini yoga and meditation session held on Wednesday from 8pm to 9.30pm, followed by a workshop on “human design”, a practical framework for self-navigation, this Friday from 6pm to 9pm.
www.sevaexperience.com
Achievher
This Dubai studio has been offering live somatic “co-regulation” calls for free, for people to drop in and ground themselves. They last 40 to 60 minutes and include gentle somatic movement and breathing techniques, led by Achievher co-founder Constanze Witzel. Email constanze@achievher.com.
www.achievher.com
The Sixth House
Joanne from The Sixth House in Dubai is offering free community breath and somatic healing workshops online during this time. These are workshops are for individuals and families with older children who need support right now, staying calm for those around them. Keep an eye on her Instagram account (@thesixthhousedubai) for details of how to access these sessions.
That Dubai Girl
This online community teamed up with holistic well-being and mindfulness coach Jane Elizabeth to host a calming meditation session at 8pm on Monday, the details of which are available on their Instagram account: @thatdubaigirlofficial. “This is a gentle space to slow the body’s stress response, return attention to your breathing, and allow a little softness and ease to settle in.” Keep an eye on their socials for more coming up.