A SURVEY conducted in Bahrain revealed that 90 per cent of Bahrainis cancelled important personal plans because of extraordinary circumstances imposed on the kingdom and the world due to Covid-19.
The study also revealed that feelings of anxiety and stress have troubled them during recent times as 27pc of them highlighted extreme concern over the impact of the pandemic on their financial income.
It was conducted by ‘Umatter’, a non-profit mental health and well-being campaign launched in Bahrain, set up under the patronage of Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa.
The results of the study were launched in association with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with mental health and well-being experts.
According to the survey, 90pc of Bahrainis have postponed crucial personal projects related to education, work or marriage due to Covid-19 and feelings of anxiety, distress as well as physical and psychological exhaustion were documented.
However, it could have been worse, according to an expert involved in the project.
“The levels of mental health and well-being for the people in the kingdom are good compared with other societies, despite the numbers indicated by the survey,” said Umatter campaign founder and strategic leadership and human development adviser Wael Zaki.
“The significant support by the government in terms of responding to the pandemic include ensuring payment of employee salaries and cancelling EWA bills and other expenses.
“That is also in addition to other decisions related to flexible and remote working which have all contributed to mitigate the negative psychological and health effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The survey also showed that 81pc of respondents revealed that over the last month they felt a sense of hopelessness and lack of interest while 73pc highlighted that they don’t feel positive about their lives most of the time.
Although the survey revealed that 54pc of participants don’t have a person close to them – whether in family, friends, work or community who truly understands them – only 9pc have seen a counsellor, therapist and psychiatrist.
“We must be hopeful that the worst is behind us and that it has become possible to set an almost accurate time frame for the gradual elimination of Covid-19 in the world within six months to a year,” said Umatter Co-founder and Talent management and life skills adviser, Rula Husseini.
“It must also be noted that the negative economic and social effects of the pandemic will continue for a longer period of time due to slow global economic recovery, the difficulty of the process and the challenge in returning to normal life after a health crisis that lasted more than a year.
“The challenges revealed through the survey include adjusting to the new normal of remote working, temporary unemployment, home-schooling and a lack of socialising.”
Ms Husseini also highlighted that Covid-19 has created a variety of challenges for employers such as the need for remote working and stressed the importance of investing in mental health programmes.
reem@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))