A surge in demand for mental health support during the pandemic is abating as people begin to learn to live with Covid-19, UAE experts said.
Cases of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues rocketed around the world after the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, as many struggled to come to terms with changes to their daily lives caused by the virus, including travel restrictions, remote working and physical distancing rules.
That led to a growing need for mental health services over the past 18 months, with a second peak after the emergence of the highly-infectious delta variant earlier this year.
That has now dropped off, at least for adults, according to Priory, a UK mental health services provider, which operates two clinics in the UAE, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Its branch in the capital opened last week, catering to adults and children.
“Because of the way the pandemic has been so well managed here, now people are going back to work we are seeing fewer things related to the pandemic,” said Will Goodwin, managing director of Priory Group Middle East.
“It could be that people are getting more used to living with the virus and therefore people are more likely to be able to go back to some of the things they did before, obviously following the guidelines.”
But pandemic-related requests for help have not stopped altogether, he said. Many ongoing issues relate to the realisation the virus is here to stay.
Long-term toll on children still to be determined
And the pandemic is a pressing concern in regards to services for children and young people.
“I don’t think we will fully understand for some time to come about the impact the pandemic has had on young people’s mental health,” said Tanya Dharamshi, clinical director and counsellor at Priory Wellbeing Centre Dubai.
“Going into online learning versus school, this in and out, in and out, having to create bubbles.
“There was the anxiety of not being able to go back to school and being almost in a silo, if you think of it like that.
“Up until the end of June, some schools were doing one week on, one week off. This is going to be telling in the sense of how children respond to that.”
The true effect will become clear in about a month or two, when all children in Dubai will return to full in-person learning, which has already resumed in Abu Dhabi.
“It will be interesting to see globally how this impacts the youth,” she said.
UAE's Priory team deliver dedicated service
Dubai is now Priory’s busiest clinic across the group, which operates 27 sites in the UK alone.
Part of that, Mr Goodwin said, relates to the availability of its experts in Dubai, who are employed directly by the clinic.
That from the UK, where specialists work across several locations, such as a hospital, as well as an outpatient clinic.
“So some of it would be availability. We have a very good team here, which is very accessible,” he said.
The conditions they see are similar to those in the UK, with anxiety, stress and depression, being the biggest.
“I would say the Dubai branch is slightly larger than those in the UK ... the Abu Dhabi branch, in particular, is over two floors in Al Bateen, Mr Goodwin said.
“It’s a wonderful facility and it’s probably our largest in the group.”
Gold-standard care at new Abu Dhabi centre
The expansion to Abu Dhabi was natural, he said.
It offers a full range adult, children and young person’s mental health services, including speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of disorders such as ADHD and autism.
“Probably the biggest differentiator is for people to be able to get assessments, developmental, educational and general mental health assessments.
“You are going to get a gold-standard assessment for ADHD, autism, developmental and educational assessment. But then you can also have the interventions to support in the same clinic.
“So we are bringing that best of British healthcare standards to the emirate.”
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
AVOID SCAMMERS: TIPS FROM EMIRATES NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
Mountain%20Boy
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Company%20Profile
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Tips%20for%20travelling%20while%20needing%20dialysis
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EInform%20your%20doctor%20about%20your%20plans.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAsk%20about%20your%20treatment%20so%20you%20know%20how%20it%20works.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPay%20attention%20to%20your%20health%20if%20you%20travel%20to%20a%20hot%20destination.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPlan%20your%20trip%20well.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
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RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
Results
Women finals: 48kg - Urantsetseg Munkhbat (MGL) bt Distria Krasniqi (KOS); 52kg - Odette Guiffrida (ITA) bt Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS); 57kg - Nora Gjakova (KOS) bt Anastasiia Konkina (Rus)
Men’s finals: 60kg - Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) bt Francisco Garrigos (ESP); 66kg - Vazha Margvelashvili (Geo) bt Yerlan Serikzhanov (KAZ)
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
