Tearing Away The Stigma For The Future Of Mental Health

< Please note - this was recorded at a live event >

"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 Healthcare 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.

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.

Chapter List

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
Scott Armstrong opens the live podcast at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, shares the personal inspiration behind mentl, and introduces the Tear Away The Silence campaign supported by Viatris.

01:47 – Keynote: Dr. Zain Al Yafei – Mental Health is a Vertical
Dr. Zain discusses the integrated mental health approach at Sakina and calls for collaboration across society to destigmatize mental health.

08:32 – Keynote: Khuloud Al Omian – Breaking the Silence
Khuloud shares her personal story with breast cancer and depression, and the media’s role in destigmatizing mental health.

27:03 – Panel Introduction: Voices of Mental Health Leadership
Scott introduces the full panel:

• H.E. Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri
• Hein van Eck
• David Hadley
• Dr. Samer Makhoul
• Dr. Vedrana Mladina

29:21 – H.E. Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri – The Pain Point of Progress
Reflects on public health efforts since 2012 and highlights the slow pace of mental health integration and the need for persistence.

30:54 – Hein van Eck – Changing Organisational Culture
Speaks on the need to train all physicians to identify mental health issues and foster a culture of openness in healthcare.

32:16 – David Hadley – Treating Mental Health Early
Calls for integrating mental health into patient care pathways and insurance coverage for preventive mental health care.

33:47 – Dr. Samer Makhoul – Mental Health is 100% Medical
Challenges the divide between physical and mental health and urges fellow psychiatrists to treat it as a brain disease.

36:08 – Dr. Vedrana Mladina – Tearing Away Invisibility
Highlights the invisible nature of psychological work and the need to legitimise therapy and give voice to patients.

38:14 – H.E. Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri – Policy in Action
Details Abu Dhabi’s public health strategies: school screenings, workplace integration, and national mental health registries.

45:41 – Tackling Stigma from the Front Lines
Dr. Samer and panelists discuss how stigma can be dismantled in clinical and community settings, especially through primary care.

48:43 – The Role of Psychologists vs Psychiatrists
Dr. Vedrana outlines therapy’s challenges, misconceptions, and the power of therapeutic relationships.

52:34 – Hein van Eck – The Maternity Mental Health Model
Shares how Mediclinic’s new model screens maternal mental health during and after pregnancy.

58:04 – Collaboration & Technology as Catalysts
David Hadley advocates for stakeholder collaboration and the role of AI and digital access in expanding care.

1:00:12 – Shifting the Needle: Where Change Begins