More than 25 organizations from throughout Qatar have joined the "Are You OK?" campaign to promote mental health and wellbeing, building on the success of last year.

The campaign was re-activated this year to coincide with World Mental Health Day 2021, which was observed on October 10 by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine, Naufar, and Qatar Red Crescent.

The goal of the campaign is to encourage people to talk more openly about their emotional health. The Ministry has released a video on social media as part of the campaign, in which local healthcare specialists encourage everyone to have a conversation with loved ones about their mental health and wellbeing.

Iain Francis Tulley, Chief Executive of Mental Health Service at HMC, said, “At some point in our lives many of us will suffer from stress, anxiety or feelings of sadness, these feelings are in fact normal and often pass quickly.

“By asking a relative, friend, or colleague ‘Are you OK?’, and by asking it in the right way, this can help to start a conversation with someone we care about who may be finding it difficult to speak openly about their struggles.”

According to Dr. Felice Watt, the "Are you OK?" campaign aims to attract and motivate as many members of the community to combat stigma and talk about their mental health, as this is the first step toward increasing awareness of how to cope with daily pressures, avoid anxiety and stress, interact with others, and make good decisions.

He and other healthcare officials encourage individuals to talk about mental health and, if necessary, seek professional help.

The healthcare industry has greatly expanded services and improved access to mental health services in recent years, allowing it to meet the rising demand for mental health assistance.

One of the most significant improvements in recent years has been the creation of the mental health helpline in April 2020. The confidential helpline has received over 35,000 calls since its inception.

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Cover Image Credit & Source: The Peninsula