(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Doha: Qatar Foundation's Doha International Family Institute stressed the pivotal role of women in enhancing family cohesion and wellbeing, especially during COVID-19, which resulted in women taking on greater physical and mental responsibilities, in an online seminar titled 'COVID-19: The Unseen Role of Mothers.'
Part of DIFI's marking of World Mental Health Day 2021, themed 'Mental Health for All: Let's Make This a Reality,' the webinar was organised in partnership with Sidra Medicine, a member of QF.
The session focused on the key role of mothers during the pandemic, shining a spotlight on new family responsibilities imposed by this global crisis on women, and the consequences it has had on their mental health.
Dr. Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director, DIFI said,“COVID-19 has drastically changed the lives of people all over the world and caused great psychological pressures. Women have borne a larger brunt, as they simultaneously face professional and family responsibilities. Moreover, mental health challenges represent a stigma in various societies worldwide.
“This distorted view is further exacerbated in our region, thus constituting a major obstacle for mothers to seek help. Inaccessibility to care impacts mothers' ability to take care of their families in a normal manner and affects those around them – especially children.
“Realizing that psychological and emotional balance is one of the components of family happiness, we decided, for World Mental Health Day, to shed light on the psychological pressures that mothers face and ways to alleviate them, to help spread awareness about the importance of mental health.
“We also hope the outcomes of the discussion will enhance family wellbeing in Qatar and the Arab world, as well as emphasise the importance of understanding their spouse's needs, how to respond to signs of psychological fatigue and to quickly provide emotional support and specialized professional assistance when needed. None of us is immune to mental illness.”
In a previous DIFI study on promoting work-family balance policies in Qatar, most women who participated said they could not achieve a work-family balance.
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