Family development bodies Bode Well for UAE residents
Some 139 participants from the DFDC employees and community members took part in the event which was presented by Dr. Bennah Youssef Bouzoun, Bahraini psychiatrist
The Department of Family Development Centres (DFDC) of the institutions of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah recently organised, in cooperation with the Family Development Foundation in Abu Dhabi (FDF) a webinar entitled “Bode well … Eid Mubarak”.
This comes as part of the DFDC’S keenness to enhance cooperation and coordination with the social-sector-related authorities and institutions to bolster the UAE’S efforts in countering the repercussions of the new coronavirus pandemic.
The event falls under the virtual social campaign “Bodewell”launchedbyherhighnesssheikhafatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation “Mother of the Nation”, and it aims to enhance the mental health of community members and to instil optimism and positivity among families and elevate their capabilities to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some 139 participants from the DFDC employees and community members took part in the event which was presented by Dr. Bennah Youssef Bouzoun, Bahraini psychiatrist, who touched on ways of effective self-management and the ability to relieve and control life pressure, through achieving adaptation to challenges and crises to minimising their negative effects.
The virtual workshop also highlighted the concept of psychological disorders and their types and the mechanism to reduce their rates by enhancing mental and behavioural skills to achieve balance and self-harmony and family cohesion.
Moudhialshamsi,headofdepartmentoffamily Development Centres, pointed to the importance of the webinar in enhancing the mental health of community members, reducing the possible psychological repercussions of COVID-19, and supporting recovery efforts led by the government of the UAE in preparation for the POST-COVID-19 era,
Al Shamsi stressed that DFDC Sharjah, pursuant to the implementation of the visions and directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, was keen to launch programmes and initiatives aimed primarily at protecting and supporting the family to meet all challenges and to support them to remain stable and cohesive.
INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES
She pointed out that the current stage is exceptional in its effects and repercussions on family members, something that requires the development of innovative tools to help them overcome the psychological consequences of this global crisis, underliningdfdc’skeennesstotailoreducationaland awareness programmes that suit the current stager, through the optimal investment of human resources and advanced technology infrastructure, and the effectivepartnershipwithvariousgovernmentaland private entities and institutions. These efforts would help spread positive family culture.
Al Shamsi thanked the Family Development Foundation for their relentless efforts in organising and making this webinar successful.
The two-hour webinar witnessed a remarkable interaction from the attendees who debated over the positive side of challenges and crises and their role in refining human experiences and helping them enhance self-confidence by turning challenges into opportunities.
Dr. Bennah Youssef Bouzoun explained that anxiety occurs naturally when we feel distressed. This feeling can play a positive role in life by motivating us to develop our skills and abilities to overcome the challenges that cause this anxiety, pointing to the importance of managing stress in order to avoid vulnerability to anxiety disorders, which is more common than any other mental health disorders.
Bouzoun highlighted the common symptoms of anxietydisorders,includingpanicandfear,obsessive behaviour, such as sleeping difficulties, cold hands or sweating hands, shortness of breath, and inability to sit and relax.
Dr.bouzounalsomentionedtheeffectofexcessive anxiety disorders on the physical health, especially on the immune system, where anxiety affects the role of lymphocytes in fighting infections and inflammation which reduce the efficiency of the immune system, and slow down the recovery time, pointing to the methods to manage anxiety and reduce its negative effects by maintaining physical activity, adopting healthy lifestyles and getting enough sleep, using relaxation methods.