The Middle East is seeing a steady spread in mental health ailments.
Shame and stigma though have kept sufferers from seeking expert help.
But a UAE woman entrepreneur is out to change attitudes toward a disorder troubling some 40 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24.
“Breaking taboos around mental health is the need of the hour,” said Khawla Hammad, founder and CEO of the UAE-based online counseling platform for mental well-being called Takalam.
It has raised more than $1 million in funding.
According to a report ‘Mental State of the World2021’ prepared the US-based Sapien Labs some 40 percent of young people, aged between 18 and 24 years, in the Middle East region have struggled with their mental well-being in 2021.
Evidently, the rising cost of mental health is hurting the region, further exacerbated by the pandemic.
However, even before the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared mental health a crisis, as globally one in eight people suffers from a mental health disorder.
By the turn of the decade depression is expected to become a leading cause of disease.
Having struggled to deal with the loss of a loved one and postpartum depression, the Takalam co-founders, Inas Abu Shashieh and Hammad, acknowledge that embracing one’s own vulnerabilities is often the first step towards improving mental health.
“But unfortunately showing our vulnerabilities is often seen as a sign of weakness in many societies, not limited to our part of the world. Most people, women and men, worry about being judged by family, friends, colleagues, community, and the society. Often overlooking that being able to express emotions, particularly difficult emotions, leads to personal growth.”
Changing perceptions, breaking taboos
While mental health challenges aren’t gender specific, perceptions such as “men must be strong,” “women must have a certain kind of physical appearance” still exist.
And such perceptions negatively impact mental health.
“That’s why making a meaningful difference about the way mental health is addressed, especially in conservative cultures, is crucial,” Hammad added.
“It starts with having open conversations about mental health. Driving awareness that mental health can impact anyone irrespective of gender, nationality, religion, backgrounds. In doing so, meaningful collaborations with government and private sector entities, policymakers, communities are pivotal. Social media is also a great channel to drive constant awareness about mental health.”
In this context, Hammad quoted Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates who once said, “We need to understand that anyone can experience mental health issues and there is no shame in having them but there is shame in ignoring them.”
The psychological cost of the pandemic
According to data from John Hopkins University, globally cases of anxiety and depression increased dramatically in 2020, with an estimated 76 and 53 million extra cases of anxiety and major depressive disorder, respectively.
Asked about the pandemic’s effect on mental health in the region, Hammad said, “The psychological aftermath of the pandemic — in the form of anxiety, trauma, and grief — is expected to last for a while. Going through a life changing event like the pandemic has led to a massive realization- that mental health plays a pivotal role in our overall well-being. If anything, the pandemic has also led to better understanding of how our mental health is closely linked to our physical well-being. In many ways the pandemic has accelerated conversations around mental health as people are now openly speaking about their struggles. Prior to the pandemic such conversations were quite limited.”
But that’s not enough, Hammad stressed.
“There is a clear need to create awareness through community initiatives, culturally appropriate dialogues to answer the needs of a specific group of demographics, as well as policy making by government agencies to formulate strategies to create happier and more productive communities.”
“A lot of positive changes are already underway. Within a short period, Takalam has been able to form meaningful collaborations with public and private entities, educational institutes, and communities to benefit families, entrepreneurs, youth, and more. For instance, in conjunction with the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi we’ve developed the Tegahwa initiative. To see on-ground changes in conversations around mental health, we must continue collaborating with agencies that are keen to drive change,” she concluded.