UAE schools prioritise the mental health of their pupils as pandemic takes its toll

Schools in the UAE are focusing on the well-being of pupils who faced 18 months of disruption because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Teachers believe that, if left unchecked, the pressures of the outbreak could affect academic achievement.

Nearly one in three teenagers in a US study said their mental health suffered in the period.

The online survey of 571 male pupils aged between 11 and 19 in Ohio revealed that 31.7 per cent reported worsened moods and 32.6 per cent suffered increased levels of anxiety since March, 2020.

The study, Perceived Changes in Mood and Anxiety Among Male Youth During the Covid-19 Pandemic, was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Experts in the UAE said teenagers were stressed about many things, including remote learning, social isolation, catching the virus and infecting others.

Janecke Aarnaes, director at Universal American School in Dubai, urged the education community to put the mental health of children at the top of their agenda.

“When the pandemic deprived many of our young learners of the natural ability to hang out and socialise with friends, it stripped the main purpose of getting together in school,” Ms Aarnaes said.

“It is my hope that the safety protocols for schools will factor in mental well-being as much as they did when no person was vaccinated, so that we can allow our students to socially interact without inhibitions.

“It is hard not to agree that if a child can do advanced mathematics, speak multiple languages, or receive top grades, but can’t manage their emotions, have no physical stamina, can’t practise conflict resolution, or find solutions to the unknown, little of the academic stuff is really going to matter.

“A pupil’s mental well-being is critical to their ability to succeed academically.”

She said the school encouraged pupils to seek help with counsellors and had organised one-on-one and group sessions for them.

The US study found that boys who had increased anxiety and worsened mood during the pandemic tended to be older, from higher income households, and had a history of depression or anxiety.

Teenagers who were not close to their families and friends were at higher risk of deteriorating mental health.

In June, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai’s private school regulator, announced that more than half of pupils in the emirate had returned to in-person lessons.

Carolyn Yaffe, a psychotherapist at Camali Clinic in Dubai, said studying remotely had taken a toll on teenagers in the UAE, with many feeling left behind academically and socially.

“When they returned to school, everything was different,” Ms Yaffe said.

“Some pupils were happy to go back to school, while others had adjusted to online learning and felt overwhelmed.

“They don’t have the same social interaction or lunches together. The changes caused a lot of anxiety and depression in children.”

Ms Yaffe advised parents to watch for signs of depression and anxiety, and be mindful of children becoming withdrawn.

Stress can manifest itself physically, so if children start complaining of headaches and stomach aches, that could be a sign of panic.

Lisa Johnson, principal at the American Academy for Girls in Dubai, said many pupils had missed out on major events such as graduations and proms.

“These social interactions are critical for teenagers and their absence has many young people feeling isolated and depressed,” Ms Johnson said.

The school conducted surveys and meetings to ask pupils how it could better support their well-being.

“The most important thing parents can do is prioritise the mental and physical health of their children” she said.

Rebecca Coulter, vice principal at Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, said there had been issues caused by isolation from friends, family and peers.

“The inability to travel and to see loved ones has had a detrimental impact on mental health and resilience among our more vulnerable children,” she said.

She asked parents to establish daily routines for their children’s physical and mental health needs, limit the amount of time spent on devices and speak with their children.

The pandemic deprived many children of a social life, an element that teachers say is central to their education