UAE offers free family counselling to support community during coronavirus crisis

There will be four interactive channels providing support for families. (Shutterstock)

• The initiative will provide support for families to alleviate the psychological impacts of COVID-19 during home quarantine and social isolation
• People can call a hotline or book video call appointments on the ministry’s website

DUBAI: The Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) launched the ‘Taaluf’ initiative to offer free family counselling to all UAE residents, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.
There will be four interactive channels providing support for families to alleviate the psychological impacts of COVID-19 during home quarantine and social distancing, MoCD said.
The initiative “focuses on interaction and dialogue to disseminate knowledge, guidance and make consultation easier and faster, reaching out to all members of the UAE community,” Assistant Under-Secretary for Social Development Hessa Tahlak said.
The private and confidential service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Residents can reach the service through a hotline, by calling 800623 from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday. They can also register for video call appointments via Whatsapp on the Ministry’s website.
MoCD will also provide weekly live streams via their Instagram account to the public.
The UAE has implemented a curfew as part of the national disinfection program since March 26, people are not allowed to leave their houses without permits between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The regulation is part of the country’s efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus, as the current toll reached 611 with five deaths and 61 recoveries.