Qatar's Ministry of Health Inks Agreement with Maudsley International on Mental Health

Doha, June 25 (QNA) - The Minister of Public Health, HE Dr. Hanan Mohammad Al-Kuwari, and the Executive Director of Maudsley International, Tracy Power, have signed a partnership agreement in the field of mental health. According to this partnership agreement, Maudsley International shall provide specialized expertise to support the successful implementation of Qatar National Mental Health Strategy 2013-2018 (QNMHS). "The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is always keen to promote fruitful partnerships with internationally recognized and high profile institutions for the exchange of world-class specialized expertise in the field of healthcare and the efficient implementation of health strategies, programs and projects," stated Dr. Hanan, Dr. Hanan further underlined that the partnership with Maudsley International shall favorably contribute in realizing our vision to provide our population with the best moral health and welfare services through an integrated mental health system that guarantees the provisioning of the appropriate care at the appropriate time and place. By virtue of the partnership agreement, Maudsley International will work in partnership with the MoPH to support the development of mental health programs in schools, and provide expert advice to support the development of anti-stigma campaigns for Qatar. This will help raise public awareness about mental health and reduce the stigma-associated mental illness. Working with key stakeholders in Qatar, Maudsley International will develop a national mental health research agenda, identifying priority research programs. This will provide a coordinated multi-sectorial approach to mental health policy development and planning and ensure mental health research evidence translates into improvements in clinical practice and patient outcomes. Working with the National Mental Health Program, Maudsley International will also design and deliver Mental Health Awareness Training Programs for a range of health professionals. This will support one of the key milestones of the QNMHS to ensure Mental Health training is available to all health professionals by March 2017 and contribute to the development of a sustainable, high-quality workforce trained in mental health. The benefits of the training will ensure staff have the relevant knowledge and skills to support various population groups accessing mental health services in Qatar. Speaking on behalf of Maudsley International, Managing Director, Tracey Power applauded the efforts exerted by the MoPH featured in establishing a Mental Health Strategy with an associated implementation plan, and its strong commitment to delivering plans to address mental health prevention and promotion. "This partnership offers valuable learning and awareness opportunities in the field of mental health in Qatar as well as in the region and indeed across the world at large" explained Tracey. For her part, Acting Executive Director of the National Mental Health Program at the MoPH, Susan Clelland, said, "Building on the achievements of key strategy partners, this agreement is an important step in delivering the next phase of the National Mental Health Strategy. The mental health expertise provided by Maudsley International will provide additional support to facilitate the mental health agenda in Qatar". It worth noting that Maudsley International is a social enterprise owned by the Maudsley Charity, which caters for supporting an international network of associates committed to improving mental health services worldwide. It has an extensive experience in contributing to the development and delivery of mental health strategies internationally. It, also, harnesses the expertise of leading clinicians, managers and scientists to adapt with the international best practice in the local context and engage local stakeholders in development programs. (QNA)