Mental Health Services during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Abstract

United Arab Emirates is demonstrating a model to the world in its response to the crisis and dealing with a pandemic that has provoked unprecedented health care delivery changes. Here, the authors describe how services were remodeled to safely manage patients with mental disorders in the largest admitting psychiatric facility in the capital city Abu Dhabi, the Behavioral Science Pavilion in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The article illustrates the changes in admission rates, outpatient clinic and emergency room visits, paving the way for a pliable mental health service that copes with unpredictable circumstances.