RIYADH: As the Kingdom unites in the aftermath of recent attacks with a newfound spirit of solidarity, Saudi Arabia’s mental health professionals are urging citizens to focus on emotional health, help each other and seek professional treatment when needed.
Social media and public platforms have been used by experts to highlight the importance of community cohesion and psychological resilience, noting that family and social support can be crucial in helping people cope with periods of uncertainty and pain.
“Understanding how people process distressing events is a key step to managing anxiety,” says Dr Majid Al-Desouki, consultant psychiatrist and co-founder of digital mental health platform Psyter. Our brains react to seeing danger almost as if we are in danger,” he told Arab News. The repeated coverage promotes anxiety and decreases the feeling of security. “Tune in at scheduled times to reliable sources, then switch off.” Family members can support loved ones during periods of increased tension, especially children who may have difficulty understanding what is happening, said Al-Desouki.
He said: “Kids look to adults for cues and are most concerned about the safety of their own families, homes and schools. Honest, simple answers to their queries, limited exposure and reassurance that the grown-ups around them are working to keep children safe.”
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