Mental health platform reaches 600 users in one day across Middle East

A new mental health platform designed specifically for the Middle East reached over 600 people within 24 hours of its soft launch. Most users were young people, highlighting the urgent need for mental health support that fits the region's reality.

Elggo Relief Hub is now fully live at relief.elggo.com. The platform was built to address the emotional strain from ongoing war and instability affecting homes, schools, and communities across eight countries: UAE, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Oman.

The hub targets youth, parents, families, and anyone affected by crisis. It combines three types of support: an AI journal available 24/7, free online therapy groups, and a directory of local mental health resources for each country.

How does it work?

The platform centers on Elggo's AI journal, which provides immediate, private support. The journal works in Arabic, English, and mixed language - matching how people actually communicate in the region. Instead of generic advice, it creates space for reflection and emotional processing while including safety measures.

The platform also offers:

• Free therapist-led online group sessions organized by age, language, and country
• A directory of local support resources for each country
• Access for schools wanting ongoing mental health support
• Online resilience classes for youth ages 9-18 across Lebanon and the GCC

Everything is free and open to everyone.

Why does it matter?

War and instability continue shaping daily life across the region. Many people face an overwhelming stream of generic wellness content and mental health tips that feel disconnected from their reality. At the same time, more people turn to AI for emotional support through tools that weren't built for moments of distress or cultural context.

"I grew up in Lebanon. I know what war does to people - not from a report, but from living it," says Mirna Mneimneh, Co-Founder and CEO of Elggo. "I know what it feels like to reach for support and find tools that were never built for you. The Arab world has been handed Western mental health tools with an Arabic coat of paint for too long. We're done waiting for something that fits. We built it."

Co-Founder Luma Makari adds: "We're seeing the mental health space flooded with generic advice and tools that can feel impossible to use when the world seems to be collapsing around you. Elggo Relief Hub was built to offer one place where people can access support that is more immediate, grounded, and responsible."

The context

The platform addresses a gap in culturally relevant mental health support for the Middle East. Traditional Western approaches often don't account for regional communication patterns, cultural context, or the specific challenges of living through conflict.

Elggo is a UAE-based startup building mental health support specifically for youth in the Arab world. The company works with schools, families, and community initiatives to make emotional support more accessible and culturally relevant.

The Relief Hub reflects growing demand for mental health support that is not only accessible but also responsible, regionally relevant, and actually usable during moments of fear, uncertainty, and overwhelm.