The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), represented by the Specialized Care Department of Hospitals Sector, recently organized, in collaboration with Sharjah Roads & Transport Authority, awareness lectures (English & Urdu) to raise Sharjah taxi drivers’ awareness about mental disorders.

A medical team from MoHAP conducted examinations for 100 drivers to assess their acquaintance with mental disorders causes and treatment. The team distributed mental-disorders-related brochures including how to control these disorders and the places where drivers can go for diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Mona Al Kuwari, Director of the Specialized Care Department, said that this initiative targeted taxi drivers because their mental health forms a key factor in maintaining the safety of passengers. 

“We need to raise their awareness about mental disorders so that they can protect themselves and consequently maintain their passengers’ safety. Our aim is to enhance prevention programmes and early detection of mental disorders through the promotion of awareness programmes and ways of dealing with anxiety and depression, in addition to rehabilitating and supporting people with mental disorders, as well as engaging them in the community,” Dr. Al Kuwari added. 

She stated that the mechanism of carrying out this initiative featured awareness and preventive lectures among Sharjah taxi drivers and conducting pre-and post-tests in order to determine their knowledge about mental disorders.

Dr. Al Kuwari hailed the constructive cooperation with Sharjah Roads & Transport Authority for the third year in a row to carry out this event. This reflects the governmental concern about the mental health care for professional groups, in particular, that global statistics showed the clear impact of mental disorders on the increase of road accidents.