The Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS) has intensified its efforts to provide psychosocial support to the citizens and the residents to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, and to assist them to overcome feelings of anxiety in fear of the virus for themselves and their families. These efforts also support people infected with corona to cope with isolation and loneliness or maybe accepting the loss of a family member to the virus.
The Bahrain Red Crescent Society asserted in a statement on the occasion of World Mental Health Day that it has increased the pace of training its volunteers to provide psychological first aid and self-care methods, noting that the provided psychosocial support specifically targets the most vulnerable groups who are exposed to severe stress factors such as the elderly, children and people with limited income.
The Society pointed out that its efforts in this direction are in line with the general policy of the International Federation of Red Cross and International Red Crescent Societies, by representing the Society through Mrs. Maysar Sabri Awadallah in the team of the Technical Committee for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for the Middle East and North Africa.
Mrs. Awadallah said that the Bahrain Red Crescent Society periodically publishes awareness messages about mental health for diverse social groups, and various instructions on how to deal with children in such circumstances, such as “panic attacks”, and provide psychological relief exercises, in addition to carrying out some relevant activities as visiting front-row workers who confront COVID-19 and honoring all workers in the quarantine center.
“Although the pandemic is still crippling the world for nearly ten continuous months, most citizens and residents in Bahrain have succeeded in absorbing and adapting to its negative psychological effects. This is due to the support of the Government and the extraordinary level of health and psychological care that everyone enjoys in the Kingdom of Bahrain.” She said.
She concluded by saying: “It’s very important to focus on alternative activities that any individual can perform under conditions of isolation and social distancing, such as writing daily diaries, reading a book, watching television, or doing some physical and mental exercises, in addition to reading stories of other people’s experiences in overcoming difficulties, Moreover, the Bahrain Red Crescent Society will continues its humanitarian effort by providing all possible psychosocial support through the Society’s specialized programs.”