The Dubai Women's Establishment has launched the 'Mental Health Journey to Hatta' initiative for female employees of the Dubai government. This step reflects the Establishment's commitment to supporting mental health and enhancing the well-being of working women through practical and sustainable initiatives that contribute to achieving a work-life balance. The initiative comes as a continuation of the 'Mental Health' program, which the Establishment implemented over the past two years, and included a series of awareness workshops that benefited approximately 150 female employees and leaders in governmental and semi-governmental entities in Dubai. The new initiative shifts the focus on mental health from a theoretical and educational framework to a practical experience in the outdoors, allowing participants to get away from the daily pressures of work and restore mental activity in a stimulating natural environment. The initiative included organizing two trips; one for employees of the Dubai Women's Establishment and another for female employees of the Dubai government, reflecting the Establishment's keenness to expand the reach of its initiatives and support women's mental health across government entities, and to foster a positive and sustainable work environment. The initiative aimed to support the mental health of Dubai government female employees, build social relationships among them, and encourage a healthy lifestyle through outdoor activities. The program included a mountain hike (hiking) and kayaking in Hatta Dam Lake. Na'ima Ahli, Executive Director of the Dubai Women's Establishment, said: 'This practical initiative comes as a follow-up to the success of the 'Mental Health' program, launched under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Women's Establishment, in support of the national policy for women's health and in line with Her Highness's directives to develop initiatives with a sustainable impact on women's lives, contributing to building a cohesive community and a stimulating work environment for productivity and performance, achieving the goals of Dubai's Social Agenda 2030.' She confirmed that mental health is a fundamental pillar of job happiness, pointing out that a female employee with good mental health is more productive, innovative, and giving, which positively reflects on institutional performance and sustainability. Na'ima Ahli added: 'In this context, the 'Mental Health Journey to Hatta' initiative embodies the Establishment's work strategy aimed at elevating and empowering women in various fields, including the focus on the mental health of working women and creating supportive and stimulating work environments that contribute to raising institutional performance and achieving sustainability.' • 150 female employees and leaders benefited from the 'Mental Health' program over two years.
