COVID-19 has had a huge toll on the mental health of people, and experts speculate that a big mental health crisis is likely to follow the pandemic.
Lost jobs, loss of loved ones, loneliness, uncertainty, and increased stress have all contributed to the menace of poor mental health, leading to new symptoms, or a relapse of existing ones.
According to the World Health Organization, it is expected that the need for mental health and psycho-social support will substantially increase in the coming months and years. Investment in mental health programmes at the national and international levels, which have already suffered from years of chronic underfunding, is now more important than it has ever been.
Therefore, this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign emphasized on increased investment in mental health. Over the six months Qatar has implemented several initiatives to support people feeling stressed or anxious.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has started a social media campaign to encourage people adopt some practices to maintain good mental health.
The campaign provides tips and advice on dealing with psychological stress associated with COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights to follow a healthy and balanced diet and eat healthy balanced meals (fresh vegetables and fruits), get enough sleep, rest your body, avoid stress, fatigue and staying up too late and learn ways to maintain positive attitude. The MoPH in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine, and Naufar has also launched a mental health awareness campaign under the theme ‘Are you OK?’ aimed at encouraging people to talk more openly about their emotional wellbeing.
Deputy National Lead for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Dr. Samya Ahmad Al Abdulla, said, “COVID-19 has changed many aspects the way we live our normal lives and has affected many people’s emotional health as well as their physical health. So it is now more important than ever that people feel comfortable talking openly about feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness. By asking ‘Are you OK?’, and asking in the right way, you can help to start a conversation with someone who may be finding it difficult to speak openly about their struggles.”
Also in collaboration with MoPH and PHCC, Mental Health Service in HMC launched a helpline to provide support for people experiencing mental health problems as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
