Sheikh Khalifa Medical City focuses on dignity in mental health for World Mental Health Day

Press release

Published October 18th, 2015 - 05:11 GMT

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), managed by Cleveland Clinic, is urging the public to respect and recognise patients with mental illness, as part of awareness activities for World Mental Health Day.

Organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) every year, this year’s focus was Dignity in Mental Health” which reinforces a patient’s inherent value and worth in the community.

“Dignity is the right of a patient to live a life with all respects to his human rights. It means he has the ability to make choices, and be free from violence, discrimination and abuse, and also respect for his autonomy and self-determination,” said Dr. Alaa Haweel, consultant psychiatrist at the Behavioural Science Pavilion (BSP) at SKMC, who conducted an awareness lecture at the hospital on 13 October.

Being the largest psychiatric centre in the UAE, SKMC’s BSP serves as the nation’s leading resource for clinical work, education and research, with special emphasis on multidisciplinary practices, and the integration of mental health services with other medical fields.

SKMC is part of the SEHA HealthSystem and is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA), which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Background Information

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) is located in Abu Dhabi City.The flagship institution for the public health system in Abu Dhabi, SKMC has several centers of excellence and provides comprehensive services in all healthcare disciplines relevant to the needs of the community.

SKMC is the largest hospital in the UAE, consisting of a 586-bed tertiary hospital, 14 outpatient specialty clinics, and the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, all of which are accredited by the Joint Commission International. SKMC is also accredited as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center with Primary Angioplasty Intervention, having been the first outside the USA to achieve Cycle III recognition and only the 12th worldwide to do so. It is also accredited by the College of American Pathologists for its Main Laboratory and the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank. SKMC also manages a 125-bed Behavioral Sciences Pavilion and an Urgent Care Center.

SKMC is a member of the SEHA HealthSystem, which is responsible for managing and developing public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. For further information on SEHA, please visit www.seha.ae.