The Covid-19 vaccine is delivering a shot in the arm for mental as well as physical wellbeing, researchers have found.
Rates of anxiety and depression dropped significantly in the US as vaccination campaigns were launched across the country, a study in medical journal The Lancet revealed.
The rise of coronavirus has not only posed a deadly threat to physical health but is estimated to have caused close to 130 million new cases of depression and anxiety worldwide.
But the steady increase of inoculation drives appears to have mitigated concerns over the virus.
Researchers at the University of Southern California surveyed people in the US on their mental health, as access to vaccines was expanded across the country.
Figures show the US depression rate was slashed by 27 per cent since the Covid-19 vaccination became widely available, while anxiety was reduced by 28 per cent in the sample of 8,003 adults surveyed from March 2020 until March 2021.
The biggest improvements in mental health were found in African-Americans, those renting their homes and others earning less than $35,000 (Dh128,000) a year.
A drop in anxiety was reported more commonly in government workers and households with children.
More than 530 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the US to date, with 63 per cent of the public fully vaccinated.
Researchers found people in the US were fives times more likely to pay for mental health treatment outside their health insurance coverage, than for physical care.
A similar pattern has been recorded in the UAE across the pandemic, with counsellors at the Priory Wellbeing Centre in Dubai reporting a 20 per cent rise in people asking for help.
“The pandemic has caused much turmoil across the world but it’s important that we also take the positives where we can find them,” said Mandeep Jassal, a behavioural therapist at the clinic.
“One of these is the fact that conversations about mental health have become much more commonplace – it is no longer an issue which is simply brushed under the carpet.
“As a result, people are also more likely to seek professional help.”
A survey conducted by The Priory found 1 in 3 of its clients said Covid-19 had been the most stressful and anxiety-ridden period of their life, while a quarter said the state of their mental health had been exacerbated by fear of job loss or their finances.
Almost half, 49 per cent, said stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed during the pandemic had made it difficult to do their job properly.
Mental health-related disorders have steadily increased worldwide since 1990, partly due to better diagnoses and recognition of known illnesses.
The Lancet said that from 1990 to 2019 the number of disability-adjusted life-years – a metric used to understand the effects of ill health – increased from 80.8 million to 125.3 million.
From 204 countries and territories assessed, Australasia, Tropical Latin America and high-income North America were most affected by an increase in reported mental heath issues.
Mental disorders remain in the top 10 leading causes of ill heath in the most recent 'burden of disease' figures from 2019.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
- Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
- Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
- Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
- Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
- 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
- Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
In%20the%20Land%20of%20Saints%20and%20Sinners
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERobert%20Lorenz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Liam%20Neeson%2C%20Kerry%20Condon%2C%20Jack%20Gleeson%2C%20Ciaran%20Hinds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
The five pillars of Islam
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
ABU DHABI T10: DAY TWO
Bangla Tigers v Deccan Gladiators (3.30pm)
Delhi Bulls v Karnataka Tuskers (5.45pm)
Northern Warriors v Qalandars (8.00pm)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Read more about the coronavirus
HOW TO WATCH
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