Early Preventative Mental Wellbeing Coaching for Young People in the UAE: A Structured 10-Week Skills-Based Model Supporting Mental Health and Addiction Risk Reduction

Background: Across the United Arab Emirates and globally, young people are experiencing increasing academic pressure, emotional distress, and social comparison. When unaddressed, these stressors may contribute to the later development of mental health disorders and maladaptive coping behaviours, including substance and behavioural addictions. International mental health strategy increasingly emphasises early, preventative, and non-clinical interventions that strengthen emotional regulation, resilience, and adaptive functioning before clinical severity emerges.

Aim: This presentation introduces Bright Fox Health, a structured 10-week preventative mental wellbeing coaching programme for young people aged 11–25 in the UAE. The model is designed to deliver practical psychological skills within a non-diagnostic, early-intervention framework that complements clinical mental health and addiction services.

Methods / Programme Design:  The Bright Fox model integrates evidence-informed principles drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy skills training, strengths-based coaching, and sports-psychology-based mental skills development. Programme structure includes:

• Week 1: Comprehensive wellbeing and functional assessment
• Weeks 2–9: Structured coaching sessions targeting emotional regulation, stress tolerance, attention, confidence, and adaptive coping
• Week 10: Review, consolidation, and forward planning with optional family involvement

Delivery is culturally responsive to UAE family systems and educational environments, positioning coaching as an accessible preventative layer of care situated between education and specialist clinical services.

Implications for Mental Health and Addiction Prevention: Strengthening emotional regulation, coping capacity, and self-efficacy during adolescence and early adulthood may reduce vulnerability to later psychiatric morbidity and addictive behaviours. Preventative coaching models may therefore represent a scalable public-health strategy that complements treatment-focused systems while reducing long-term clinical burden.

Conclusion: Bright Fox Health presents a structured, culturally attuned model for early mental wellbeing intervention in young people within the UAE. Ongoing evaluation will examine feasibility, acceptability, and measurable psychological outcomes to inform future research and regional implementation across mental health and addiction prevention pathways.

Chirag Karia is the founder of Bright Fox Health, a Dubai-based preventative mental wellbeing service for young people and families. He holds an MSc in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health from King’s College London and is trained in CBT, DBT, and integrative counselling approaches. His work focuses on early intervention, emotional regulation, and resilience development within culturally responsive frameworks in the UAE. He has lived and worked across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East and is committed to advancing preventative models that bridge education, mental health, and addiction prevention.