The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in one huge positive impact across the world. According to a UAE-based expert, the pandemic has helped in positively transforming people’s attitudes towards mental health

Speaking about the development, Mandeep Jassal, behavioural therapist at the Priory Wellbeing Centre in Dubai, said that are more people who are likely to reach out for help to address their mental health issues. A new poll has indicated that 1 in 5 respondents - about 18 percent of the participants - have shown interest in reaching out to for help. Furthermore, one in ten people (10 percent) has sought mental health treatment for the first time in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused several challenges for people across the world, it has led to a positive outcome in enhancing the openness and understanding about mental health issues for long-term benefits.

“The pandemic has caused much turmoil across the world, but it’s important that we also take the positives where we can find them,” she said.

People are discussing more about mental health. It is no longer an issue brushed under the carpet. As a result, more people are seeking professional help to address their issues related to mental health.

According to the results of the survey conducted by Priory, there are a number of concerns related to the impact of the pandemic on mental health. Reportedly, there are 1 in 3 (34 percent) people who said it has been “the most stressful and anxiety-ridden period of their life”. At the same time, about 1 in 4 (24 percent) people said the state of their mental health has been exacerbated due to fear of job loss as well as financial management. Moreover, nearly 49 percent of the participants said COVID-19 has increased stress and overwhelming feeling in doing their job properly.

Such challenges have enhanced mental health issues among people, while opening the door to a change in attitudes towards seeking help, added the behavioural therapist.

"One area in which the Priory Wellbeing Clinic Dubai has seen a marked upturn in people asking for support is relationship counselling, where there has been an 11 percent increase in those being treated since the of the pandemic," Jassal added.

She also explained that some relationships have been under strain during the pandemic due to issues related to increased proximity as a result of home-working restrictions. The Priory's UK-based poll echoed the therapist views, revealing that more than one in four participants (26 percent) noted that their relationship with their partner has worsened during the period. She said that the pandemic resulted in a number of couples unable to maintain a healthy balance in their relationship.

 “When this happens, relations become and can result in negative thinking such as ‘I can’t cope’ and ‘I am failing in this relationship’, which can lead to dysfunctional and repetitive behaviours such as snapping or avoiding certain conversations," she added.

Couples have been trying to make major adjustments to their relationships. For some, it has increased tensions in emotional ways, while for others, it has triggered the fear of irreversible damages and others feeling a sense of rejection and worthlessness.

Over the past 12 months, the Priory team has experienced that prominent issues have been resilience and harmony among people across the country. Challenges related to the same have included a lack of privacy and personal space. In addition, adjustment to a new pace of life and daily routine, combined with work and financial stress have the problems among couples. Married couples are facing issues related to childcare, an uneven split of household tasks, and miscommunication with lack of quality interaction.

"For some, previous routines had masked pre-existing problems and differences, which had to hide during the pandemic," the therapist added.

The Priory Group’s UK survey also underlined that people in the age group 18-34 have been the hardest hit by the repercussions of the pandemic. Among them, 70 percent suffered significant economic and emotional impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Interestingly, this age group was also more likely to be in the early stages of a relationship.