Dr. Haitham Salem Provides Culturally Sensitive Mental Health Care for Brooklyn’s Arab Community

At the heart of Brooklyn’s diverse community, Dr. Haitham Salem stands as a leading voice in mental health care. As the Director of Adult Mental Health Services at Maimonides Health, Dr. Salem brings years of expertise in psychiatry and a strong commitment to breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness. His mission is clear: to treat mental health with the same urgency, dignity, and respect as physical health.

Dr. Salem emphasizes that conditions like depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, OCD, and substance abuse are medical conditions—not personal weaknesses—that can and should be treated. With his guidance, Maimonides Health has become a trusted hub for comprehensive psychiatric services, designed to serve the cultural mosaic of Brooklyn.

Comprehensive Mental Health Services for a Diverse Community

Maimonides Health is one of the oldest and largest medical centers in Brooklyn, serving thousands of patients every year. Its mental health department is built around accessibility, privacy, and cultural sensitivity, ensuring that care is always tailored to individual needs.

• Children & Adolescents: Specialized programs such as after-school therapy sessions, summer programs, and the “Help Us Grow” (HUG) clinic support youth up to age 22 with services that evolve as they transition into adulthood.

• Adults: Individual and group therapy, family and couples counseling, and targeted programs for anxiety, panic attacks, trauma, grief, and substance use disorders. College students also benefit from dedicated support programs tailored to academic and social challenges.

• Mothers & Expecting Women: Specialized perinatal services focus on maternal mental health, offering emotional support during pregnancy and postpartum.

• Seniors: A dedicated geriatric psychiatry clinic addresses the unique needs of older adults facing age-related mental health concerns.

Culturally Sensitive & Multilingual Care

One of Maimonides’ greatest strengths is its diverse staff of doctors and therapists, who reflect the community they serve. Providers speak multiple languages, including Arabic, enabling them to understand cultural contexts and build stronger therapeutic relationships.

Patients are matched—whenever possible—with providers who respect their cultural or gender preferences, ensuring a safe, supportive, and understanding environment. Confidentiality is strictly protected, allowing patients to seek help without fear of judgment or exposure.

Emergency Psychiatric Services

Maimonides operates a specialized psychiatric emergency room, one of the few in the country to separate children and adults. This ensures patients in crisis receive age-appropriate, compassionate care in a dedicated environment rather than a general ER.

Dr. Salem’s Vision: Mental Health Without Stigma

Dr. Salem continues to advocate for the normalization of mental health treatment. He reminds patients and families that mental illness is not shameful, but a real health condition deserving of proper care. His leadership at Maimonides ensures that every patient—whether a child, student, parent, or senior—can access compassionate and confidential care that respects both medical and cultural needs.

“Mental health is health. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.” – Dr. Haitham Salem

Conclusion

From everyday stress and anxiety to more complex psychiatric needs, Maimonides Health in Brooklyn offers a one-stop solution for mental health care across all ages. Under the leadership of Dr. Haitham Salem, the institution stands as a beacon of hope and healing for Brooklyn’s vibrant, multicultural population.