UAE: Why are more residents opting for mental health help online?

UAE: Why are more residents opting for mental health help online?

As increasing conversations around mental health have managed to ease stigma around the topic, more people are seeking the therapy they require. However, in the UAE, the average cost per session of mental health therapy could go up to Dh1,200 and in many cases, is not covered by insurance. This has driven residents to look for help in other places. Many have turned to counselling sessions offered online due to lower costs, anonymity and flexibility. When Dubai resident Omer Khan was looking for therapy options for mental health, he found many in the country. However, many were either inaccessible or had a long waiting list. As he tried to look for online therapy, he found the difference in time zones cumbersome. That is how he hit upon the idea of starting Helply, an online therapy company. “We noticed a need for mental health support that's easy to access,” he said. “Traditional therapy often falls short on reach and convenience. In some parts of the world, insurance does not cover mental health or if it does, it is quite limited which is challenging. With more companies looking into online mental health solutions, we saw a chance to make a real impact.