Mental Health in Qatar: 8 Places that Offer a Hand

There are numerous overlooked mental health and related organizations in Qatar, of which can be a tremendous help to individuals suffering with mental illness and their families. With world Mental Health Day coming up on October 10th, we’ve compiled a list of relevant community services and organizations in order to help raise awareness, reduce the stigma around mental illnesses and offer a helping hand for those who need it.

Depression and anxiety, among various other mental problems are silently growing issues in Qatar, and authorities have worked towards making a positive impact in raising awareness and providing better mental health facilities. While carrying out public campaigns to reduce the stigma related to mental illnesses and helping to build more organizations and services that are crucial for those who need it, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Based on a recently conducted study of 1660 individuals attending Qatar’s primary health care centres, between the ages of 18-65, it was found that roughly a quarter of the adults who frequently attend consultations have had at least one type of mental issue. Furthermore, the research also found that 9.3% of the primary health care community has a surprisingly high rate of depression; along with anxiety and stress which were also prevalent health conditions, accounting for 10.3% of the visitors, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

However, the recently enacted  laws regarding mental health have created guidelines to ensure that all practitioners carry high standards of treatment for all mentally ill patients in Qatar. Many organizations have sought to help individuals improve and recover from their mental illnesses by providing a safe and accessible platform. Practitioners including therapists, licensed counsellors, social workers, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists now have a larger access to offering a helping hand and the appropriate support to those who need it.

Below is a guide for those who feel like they may need help or know someone who is in need of psychiatric or counselling care in Qatar.  Referral is usually conducted by any authorized healthcare professional or self-referral by paying a visit to the Psychiatry Department. Keep in mind when reviewing the list that many of these services and organizations can put you in contact or refer you to other resources not included here, which may be more appropriate for your specific needs.

1. HMC’s Mental Health Service

A governmental organization promoting mental health and supporting the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness. Treatments and support are available for all ages and are tailored to the convenience of the specific individual. As such, treatments could be carried out in a professional environment or at the accommodation of the person seeking treatment.

The team consists of integrative healthcare practitioners who are committed to providing sufficient means and treatments to those who are experiencing mental health issues with the intentions of allowing them opportunities to recover and subsequently, lead more manageable and fulfilling lives.
Open: 24/7

Phone: (+974) 4439 5777


2. Sidra Medicine’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Sidra is a mental health organization dedicated to providing treatments and resources for children and struggling families in a safe and professional environment. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar disorder, disruptive behaviour disorder and autism-related disorders are just among some of the illness that are treated at Sidra. With a team of experts including psychiatrists and psychologists, comprehensive mental health services are made available to youth and children between the ages of 5-18 years.

Open: 9am-3pm

Phone: (+974) 4003 3333


3. Weyak

A local non-profit association known as ‘Weyak’ that conducts research and provides resources and treatments to those suffering from varied forms of mental illnesses. They offer free counselling through phone-in and online services. Their main goal is to raise awareness in Qatar and to provide a permanent online platform to help spread resources, knowledge and research related to mental health. The programs are designed to navigate people to make lifestyle changes by promoting a positive outlook on treatments in order to encourage individuals and their caregivers to seek help and gain crucial insight rather than neglect mental health. They take many pro-longed approaches like consistently providing the public with information on mental health, as well as screening relevant relatable films, and conducting lectures and workshops.

Open: 24/7

Phone: (+974) 4487 8766


4. Al Ahli Hospital

Al Ahli is another local hospital that offers help from their psychiatric department to individuals suffering from mental health issues by providing proper resources, treatments and referrals where necessary. Their team includes psychotherapists, counsellors and consultants who offer behaviour modification techniques and medication. They also provide at home services for your convenience, in which the beneficial help is provided at the comfort of your home. The services are available for individuals of all ages.

Open: 24/7

Phone: (+974) 4489 8888


5. The International Medical Centre

The International Medical Centre has a psychology and counselling department that includes a variety of services like psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, coaching and mindfulness therapy as well as various types of counselling. Services are available to individuals of all ages and are provided by accredited practitioners to support all individuals suffering from mental health related problems including depression and anxiety.

Open: 8am-6pm

Phone: (+974) 4488 4292


6. Doha Clinic Hospital

Doha Clinic Hospital is a private hospital, with facilities and services that are well recognized and recommended by both expatriates and nationals, as they have a convenient 24/7 service to the psychiatry department. Medical treatments and comprehensive psychiatric evaluations are only available for adults aged 21 and above for a variety of mental health issues. They also make referrals to other specialized health professionals where necessary.

Open: 8am-10pm

Phone: (+974) 4438 4333


7. Dr. Aju’s Clinic

A mental health clinic and counselling centre established by Dr. Aju Abraham, a UK qualified consultant psychiatrist, with years of professional experience in treating numerous mental health issues including depression and anxiety. The clinic massively focuses on ways of incorporating a combination of frequent psychiatric evaluations along with psychometric testing to provide the best possible outcome for each individual. Counselling is also offered for various problems, including but not limited to marital issues, behavioural dysfunction and family or work related stress or anxiety.

Open: 8am-12pm and 4pm-8pm

Phone: (+974) 4436 5051


8. Sam Nabil Counseling Services

This is an online establishment created by Sam Nabil, a previous expatriate of Qatar that offers mental health support and services for individuals of all ages. As a health counsellor, he does not offer medications or treatments but rather a supportive platform where people can read about mental health, retrieve advice and knowledge from Nabil, as well as connect and have discussions with other individuals who may have similar issues. His counselling revolves around many issues like marital problems, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma, intimacy and more.

Open: 24/7

Do you have any further recommendation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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