BAE Systems, Outward Bound Oman deliver courses to address mental health
Outward Bound Oman recently welcomed Jo Roberts, CEO of leading UK charity The Wilderness Foundation to Muscat to observe and support the first course being delivered for Omani youth experiencing challenge in their lives.
Following discussions with H H Sayyid Basma al Said at the Whispers of Serenity Clinic in Muscat, and Oman Ministry of Health’s head of Mental Health section Dr Amira Raidan, the course was designed specifically to help build self-esteem, reconnect young people to reality, improve mental well-being and promote resilience and employability; such courses are particularly relevant for young people experiencing such issues as anxiety, depression, trauma or bereavement.
The three-day programme took place out of doors, in the
Sharqiyah Sands, enabling the participants to get close to nature in a safe environment away from the pressures, issues and struggles of day-to-day life.
Dr Amira stated, “Mental illness or disorder is a subject that is surrounded with a lot of myths, and therefore is sometimes deemed unacceptable in society, and considered as ‘culturally taboo’, a stigma that causes people in need of help to keep it to themselves and to suffer in silence, making it harder for them to live with this burden. I’m very happy to have the Outward Bound team in Oman as an additional support to help in eliminating the stigma about mental illness, and to improve community understanding on mental health issues.”
The course was supported by BAE Systems. Ian Lane, general manager of BAE Systems Oman, commented, “We are proud to support this great initiative; we recognise the importance of continuing to build the capacity and employability of Oman’s national youth, irrespective of the challenges they may face in life.”
Jo delivered a focused training workshop for the Outward Bound Oman instructors, and spoke about the work of the foundation in the UK. James Goldman, deputy head of Mission at the British Embassy in Muscat, attended and said, “I am pleased to see Outward Bound Oman’s continued work to develop Oman’s national talent in support of Vision 2040 objectives.”