A survey by the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi has shown that the Emirate fared better in tackling COVID-19 impact on mental and physical health.
In a research paper by the DCD published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, it was revealed that various programmes initiated by government agencies over the past years had a remarkable effect on the mental well-being of individuals in the community.
Between April and June 2020, DCD conducted two cycles of survey to explore and identify challenges and concerns of the Abu Dhabi community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It received over 33,000 responses from the community and the assessments were prompted by global research indicating a significant increase in mental-health issues among older adults including anxiety and loneliness.
The participants of the DCD study showed milder symptoms, reporting lower levels of irritability, emotional exhaustion, signs of depression, sleep disorder and overeating and the study also indicated that older adults largely acknowledged the contributions of virtual technology in enhancing the quality of life.
Dr Layla Abdulaziz Al Hyas, Executive Director of the Social Monitoring and Innovation Sector at DCD, said that the physical and mental well-being of people is always a top priority for the Abu Dhabi community as they understand the concerns of the community during these challenging times, especially the seniors.
