Healthcare leaders unite to champion mental health
“There is no health without mental health. It deserves to be part of every conversation, every system, and every community.”
That was the message from Her Excellency Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre as leading voices from healthcare, business, and policy came together at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week to confront one of the sector’s most enduring barriers: stigma.
Hosted by mentl as part of its Tear Away The Silence campaign and supported by Viatris, Tearing Away The Stigma for the Future of Mental Health was an invitation-only roundtable that brought real conversations to the forefront -conversations that are now set to reach even wider audiences through a special episode of the mentl space: live podcast, which is now live.
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The event featured keynote insights and a dynamic panel discussion with some of the region’s most influential leaders, all sharing a united vision: to embed mental health into every level of society – openly, fearlessly, and permanently.
Powerful messages from the event included:
“Breaking the stigma around mental health begins with creating safe spaces where people feel empowered to seek help without judgment.”
– H.E. Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri, Executive Director, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre
“Mental health is not a silo – it’s a vertical that involves every single stakeholder across the community.”
–Dr. Zain Al Yafei, CEO, Sakina
“Mental health is something normal. It’s nothing to be ashamed of -just like diabetes, just like any other condition.” –Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Middle East
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“We need to stop making mental health invisible. We need to normalise it, talk about it, and ensure that seeking help is seen as a strength.”
–Dr. Vedrana Mladina, UAE Country Chapter Director, Middle East Psychological Association
“Mental health is part of what we do every day. It’s not a separate project -it should be embedded in the DNA of every organisation.”
–Hein van Eck, CEO, Mediclinic Middle East
“We’re not going to be able to remove the stigma unless we all contribute -unless we all start speaking about the challenges at hand with mental health.”
–David Hadley, CEO, NMC Healthcare
Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, said:
“Real change doesn’t happen behind closed doors. It happens when leaders step forward, when voices are heard, and when we recognise that mental health belongs in every boardroom, every classroom, every community. Tear Away The Stigma was not just an event – it was a commitment.”
The full episode of the mentl space podcast is now available on YouTube and all good podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, featuring all the most powerful moments from the roundtable, extending the conversation beyond Abu Dhabi Global Health Week and reaching audiences across the region and beyond.
Together, through conversation, collaboration, and collective leadership, we can Tear Away The Silence -and build a future where mental health is at the heart of healthcare.
