Coronavirus: Feeling overwhelmed by the pandemic? Here's what you can do
In an open letter to today's youth, Shamma Al Mazrui, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, talks about the importance of conditioning the mind in these very difficult times
I write to you with a heart full of love and hope during these trying times. As we shelter in place to protect ourselves and our neighbours, I want to express hope for your families' health and peace of mind.
The Covid-19 crisis has brought the world to a halt and forced us to reflect on what matters most. As we consider the importance of our physical health, the realities of staying at home have also heightened our awareness about the importance of our mental well-being – or inner peace.
As a human family, we need to pay attention to emotional or psychological pain just as we do to physical discomfort. If, for instance, a physical ache does not subside within a few days, we usually take some kind of action. The same should be the case when we go through emotional pain.
Kenyan nurses, midwives and other frontline workers at a sporting event organised with the aim of boosting the frontline health workers mental health. EPA
The acclaimed psychologist Guy Winch once wrote: “If you find yourself hurting emotionally for several days because of a rejection, a failure, a bad mood, or any other reason, it means you’ve sustained a psychological wound and you need to treat it with emotional-first-aid techniques.”
Of all the world’s ailments, depression and anxiety are among the top. We all have moments of feeling overwhelmed, anxious and hopeless; but if those feelings persist, it is time to take a closer look. Emotional or psychological wounds left untreated trap us in vicious cycles that only make the pain worse.
Aggravating matters, we are bombarded with texts, chat, email, social media, video games, pop-up windows and smartphone notifications. Coupled with the growing expectations of having to be available "24/7/365" and immediate responsiveness, our 21st century lifestyle puts a strain on our senses. While we may be more connected than ever, the underlying side-effects of such engagement actually disconnect us from one another – and from ourselves.
As we restrict our many freedoms during the pandemic, our mental challenges can be easily exacerbated. But I want to assure you that you are not alone in your struggles. There is little doubt that maintaining our mental well-being is one of the most important challenges of our time. Why? Because how we think and feel determines everything that we do. The brain’s ability to process thoughts and emotions is at the root of every action taken. And our actions evidently impact other people's lives. Therefore, making the brain a healthy "command centre" is essential to leading productive, purposeful and fulfilling lives.
This is where I have hope in today's youth.
I urge all youngsters to spend less time on social media and more time reading, learning and interacting with those you love. Getty
We are not powerless; indeed, we can do something about the condition of our mind, thoughts and ways we process our emotions. But for that, there are systemic changes we need to make as individuals. Covid-19 presents us with the opportunity to try new things. Just as some of us take vitamins to boost the immune system, are there vitamins – or a set of actions – we can take to bolster our psychological immune system?
At the individual level, I invite youngsters to keenly observe the state of their mental health this season. Being aware of negativity and challenging unhelpful thoughts and emotions are crucial first steps to bringing the mind back to a state of positive thinking.
Moreover, when faced with uncertainty and anxiety, it is important to reconnect with core values. If you look for opportunities in line with your values, you will find a new path and the guiding light of hope – even amid all the fear and uncertainty. You will then discover what is important to you, and hence find fulfilment.
Shamma Al Mazrui, the UAE's Minister of State for Youth Affairs, has written about the importance of reaching out. Office of Minister of State for Youth Affairs
Just as some of us take vitamins to boost the immune system, we can take action to boost our psychological immune system?
The next step is to focus on goals and further learning. It will also help to create a structure around these goals. I urge all youngsters to spend less time on social media and more time reading, learning and interacting with those you love. Try investing in an online course to discover a new passion, develop yourself as a professional, or pick up a new skill. You can start a journal or blog, learn a new language, or learn how the UAE government works by visiting Youth 101. For inspiration, check out our 100 ideas to invest youth energy and time at home.
Finally, it is important to reach out. We want to hear from you, because building a strong mental health platform for youth must be done with the help of youth. To achieve this, it would be useful if you could answer the following questions and email them to mentalhealth@fya.gov.ae:
How do you feel during these unprecedented times?
How did you deal with stressful situations before the onset of Covid-19? And how do you deal with them now?
What brings you peace of mind? And what are the hurdles that come in the way of attaining it?
The UAE leadership teaches us to look at every challenge as an opportunity. And as the government extends unparalleled support to other nations around the world in times of need, I marvel at the determination and the innovative thinking that are required to help people. This is why I assure you that the UAE will continue to prioritise your well-being and peace of mind.
With hope and love,
Shamma
Shamma bint Sohail bin Faris Al Mazrui is the UAE's Minister of State for Youth Affairs
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2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
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Company profile
Company name: Nestrom
Started: 2017
Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi
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Sector: Technology
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Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia Age: 59 Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
An arms embargo
A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
