Raphael Stevens

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    in health and weelbeing

    Mental Health Resources You Need To Know About During Lockdown

    You might be struggling to make ends meet, scared of contracting COVID-19; you might have lost a loved one, lost a job, or are scared of losing your current job – whatever it is, it’s no secret that the effects of this pandemic have felt like a never-ending attack on our collective mental health.
    For some, the impact could feel mild and negligible, while for others, it could lead to an almost paralysing state of depression or anxiety. Moreover, it could also lead to increased feelings of loneliness, stress, negative emotional spirals, panic attacks, other forms of mental distress and could even lead to suicidal thoughts.
    While we don’t have easily available data on the pandemic’s impact on South Africans’ mental health, a new report by Old Mutual suggests that the number of people affected by mental health disorders has increased significantly over the last few years.

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    They have paid out 59% more in psychiatric disorder claims since 2016, and their proportion of suicide claims has increased by 24% between 2018 and 2019.
    “Our overall experience with psychiatric disorders shows that most claims were for major depression,” Kerissa Naidoo, Old Mutual’s Chief Medical Officer, said in a statement.
    “Other psychiatric disorder claims are attributed to bipolar mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive episodes, adjustment disorders, and stress.”
    READ MORE: How To Get More Comfortable Talking About Your Mental Health
    The group says that most claimants, 83%, were adults aged between 30 and 50 years old – prime working age. Interestingly, 70% of these claimants were women.
    As we’ve all retreated to working from and staying home, with little to no physical social interaction, one can only imagine how much more of an impact on mental health the last couple of months have had on South Africans.
    “Whilst our statistics reflect our experiences in 2019, we can be certain that the current global pandemic will only compound matters,” Naidoo continued.
    Feelings of depression and anxiety in lockdown and isolation can make it feel like there’s no one to reach out to, but that’s not true. As we’ve heard a million times over, we’re fortunate enough to live in the most digitised era in history. Amongst other things, this has opened unconventional, but effective, channels and avenues where one can access resources to work through mental health issues.
    Here are some resources you can make use of if you feel like you need to talk to someone:
    Speak to someone for free
    The South African Anxiety and Depression Group, which is the continent’s largest mental health support and advocacy group, offers free telephonic consultations with expert counsellors and psychologists as and when you need it.
    Reach them here: 0800 12 13 14
    Another free counselling resource is Adcock Ingram’s Depression and Anxiety Helpline. Sponsored by the said pharmaceutical manufacturer, this support line offers immediate help for people that are overwhelmed by depression, anxiety and other issues related to mental health.
    Reach them here: 0800 70 80 90
    If you’re not necessarily looking to speak to a professional but want to speak to someone who feels like a friend, there’s a free service for that called Befrienders South Africa. With this service, you don’t have to disclose your identity; it’s there to lend a listening ear.
    Reach them here: 051 444 5691 (national line) / 051 444 5000 (Bloemfontein line) / 041 922 0068 (Uitenhage line)
    For suicidal emergency, call the Cipla SADAG Mental Health Line: 0800 567 567
    Book a virtual consultation
    Before COVID-19 hit, virtual consultations with psychologists were only allowed where a relationship between the psychologist and patient already existed, but this has since been overturned by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). In April, the statutory body announced that due to COVID-19, first-time consultations could take place virtually.
    This is something worth taking advantage of RN. Ask around in your family/friendship circles if anyone has a psychologist they’d recommend, or look online and set up a virtual consultation. Alternatively, check out the BetterHelp website. This platform will help you find affordable online counselling with a licensed therapist.
    If you have COVID-19 specific concerns, Discovery and Vodacom recently partnered to launch a free virtual healthcare platform. The platform offers access to reliable information, risk screening and, when necessary, free online medical consultations. All you have to do is register on either the Discovery or Vodacom sites and follow the prompts.
    Find nearby help
    If you feel that your mental health has deteriorated to a point of no return and you want to access nearby help, visit the TherapyRoute website. This online resource will help you find nearby mental health services. This includes everything from psychologists and social workers to community clinics, NGOs and psychiatric hospitals.
    [WATCH] Women’s Health SA chats to experts about dealing with anxiety and mental health in an ever-changing world…

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    READ MORE ON: Coronavirus Health Mental Health More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Supporting local: The $1 million advertising support scheme for UAE SMEs

    Weathering the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been an easy one, particularly for SMEs in the UAE.
    However, in order to support and help combat the difficulties many small and local businesses have faced, EW‘s parent company, Motivate Media Group, has established an initiative to support UAE SMEs with $1 million in free advertising and marketing.

    Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED) approved the initiative, which will give up to 20 SMEs the opportunity to receive $50,000 worth of free advertising across Motivate’s key brands including Emirates Woman, What’s On, Identity and Gulf Business in both print and digital.
    Businesses across an array of different industries will be able to nominate themselves for consideration to take part in the scheme.

    As part of the process, an expert panel will be appointed by Motivate not only to help local businesses get through these trying times, but also help them thrive beyond the pandemic into 2021.
    A shortlist will be created by the expert panel, based on the proposals put forward by the SMEs in order to survive the pandemic and beyond and how they will continue to contribute to the UAE.
    Discussing the new initiative, Motivate Media Group’s managing partner, Ian Fairservice, said, “We are celebrating the UAE’s success by helping others achieve their business goals. This is an incredibly hard time for all businesses, especially SMEs, and we have one of the largest media portfolios to help businesses across the UAE.”
    In order to apply to receive support digital marketing, reaching campaign targets, targeting relevant audiences and help in promotional plans with Motivate’s experts visit: motivatemedia.com/smerevival.
    – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
    Feature Image: Unsplash More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Priyanka Chopra recalls the moment Nick Jonas asked her to marry him

    Priyanka Chopra has sweetly recalled the moment husband Nick Jonas proposed making her the “luckiest girl in the world”.
    Two years ago after dating publicly for two months, Jonas popped the question on July 19, 2018, a day after Chopra’s birthday.

    Reflecting on the happy moment, the actress took to Instagram to reveal more about the moment that made her “speechless”.
    “To the greatest joy of my life,” Chopra captioned a sweet photo of the pair. “[Two] years ago on this day you asked me to marry you! I may have been speechless then but I say yes every moment of everyday since.”

    The Isn’t It Romantic star went on to thank her husband who had made her birthday weekend “incredibly memorable”.

    “Thank you for thinking of me all the time,” she said. “I am the luckiest girl in the world! I love you.”
    To mark his wife’s 38th birthday, Jonas also posted a heartfelt public message to Chopra.
    “I could stare into your eyes forever. I love you baby,” the 27-year-old said. “You are the most thoughtful, caring and wonderful person I have ever met. I am so grateful we found one another. Happy birthday beautiful.”
    Jonas and Chopra went public with their romance in May 2018 and two months later the singer got down on one knee while the couple were holidaying in Greece together.

    The couple officially tied the knot on December 1, 2018, having both a traditional Indian wedding and a Christian wedding service, which Chopra described as a “religious mash-up”.
    “We took beautiful traditions that we both grew up with and personalised them in a way that made sense for us,” she told People at the time. “It’s been incredible to find the commonalities between our beliefs and figuring out how to blend them in a respectful and meaningful way.”
    – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
    Feature Image: Getty More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Saudi Arabia’s King Salman hospitalised for medical tests

    Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been hospitalised to undergo medical tests.
    According to the Kingdom’s state news agency Saudi Press Agency (SPA), he was admitted to the King Faisal Specialist hospital in Riyadh.

    A statement from the royal court was cited, revealing the 84-year-old’s hospitalisation, which also stated he had been diagnosed with an inflamed gallbladder. However, no further details on his condition have been provided.
    King Salman took to the throne in 2015 after his half-brother King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died.

    Two years after taking to the throne, King Salman appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
    Since then, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made drastic changes for the better in the Kingdom, especially for women.
    Under his Vision 2030 initiative, an ambitious post-oil economic plan, there has been a major focus on women’s rights in the Kingdom.
    Just three months after he stepped into the role in 2017, the Crown Prince revealed in a royal decree, women would be able to secure driving licenses from June 2018.
    Then, in March 2018, it was announced by the Ministry of Justice that women who are divorced in the country would be able to instantly retain custody of their children.
    Under his plans, women are now also able to attend sports events in stadiums in three cities, female students in the Kingdom are now allowed to carry their phones while on campus and as of August 2019, women aged over 21 are now allowed to travel independently.
    – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
    Feature Image: Getty More

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    in beauty and fashion

    The Simple Summer Fashion Staple You Didn’t Know You Needed

    I was mindlessly clicking through Instagram stories a couple of months ago, when suddenly one slide got my attention. I clicked backwards to watch it again and turn my sound on (a true honor, if you ask me). A small fashion blogger that I follow was talking about the shirt she was wearing. It was everything you could ask for in a top: fitted but flattering, comfy but stylish, and most importantly, it was $8! Needless to say, I ordered two right away—and my obsession with this wardrobe staple was born. Allow me to introduce you to the perfect basic for summer 2020: the fitted ribbed tank. Not only is it my most-worn (by far) item of the season, I’m seeing them popping up everywhere from Instagram to Pinterest—and the ladies wearing them are always looking chic as hell. While it might seem like an obvious choice, trust me, the right basic tank is truly an outfit game-changer. 
    If you want to look chic while staying home and staying comfy this summer, this option is perfect. Dress it up with trendy jeans or denim shorts, or keep it casual with sweat shorts or leggings. A basic like this is so versatile, you’ll need one in every color.
    Here are a few of our absolute favorite ribbed tanks (that you’ll want to add to your cart immediately):

    Slim Fit Tank Top

    This is the tank that started it all. I have three, and I need many more. The cut is extremely flattering, and the material is comfortable and super high-quality. It comes in 10 colors and is only $8!

    View this post on Instagram

    …hello?
    A post shared by ✿ Erica ✿ (@nrdy.grl) on Jun 25, 2020 at 3:18pm PDT

    What is your favorite wardrobe staple this summer? Share it with us in the comments! More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Dubai launches new health and safety program for tourism establishments

    A new health and safety program has been launched for Dubai hotels, retail establishments and restaurants to identify which venues have implemented the correct precautionary measures in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
    The new initiative, ‘Dubai Assured’, has been established by Dubai Tourism, the Dubai Economy and the Dubai Dubai Municipality.

    Restaurants and bars will received the Dubai Assured stamp, which is free of charge, upon the confirmation they are following all health and safety guidelines in place.
    This stamp – which has a validity of 15 days and can be renewed upon follow-up investigations – is to showcase visually to tourists and guests that safety standards across Dubai are being met.

    As #Dubai is ready to open its doors to tourists the Dubai Assured stamp, a virtual identity, has been created. The stamp will be present at hotels, attractions, and restaurants that adhere to all the governments’ health and safety guidelines. https://t.co/TdBPfA6Vxl pic.twitter.com/ECK3btK6B4
    — dubaitourism (@dubaitourism) July 19, 2020

    Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of Dubai Economy, explained to state news agency WAM the initiative was also to highlight the “outstanding commitment demonstrated by commercial establishments in complying with precautionary measures”.
    “In fact, we have seen a stronger co-ordination and co-operation between the government and the private sector, and a new level of preparedness in Dubai,” he added. “Safety, stability and resilience are paramount in the new scheme of things and Dubai Assured is an inspiring statement that Dubai has strengthened its credentials as a safe destination and global hub for tourism, retail and leisure.”
    This latest initiative launched in Dubai comes after borders opened to tourists on July 7 after being closed since March due to the global pandemic.
    – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: MAINE Brasserie Instagram More

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    in health and weelbeing

    5 Exercises to Strengthen Your Core at Home

    Are you missing your typical workout routine as much as we are? We know it’s been months since you’ve gotten to clip into a bike at a spin studio, had a Body Pump instructor barking at you to squat lower, or blazed a trail on the treadmill. We’ve been stuck working out from home, which isn’t as exciting as exercising in a fancy gym or club-esque boutique studio, but the work itself remains important—especially when it comes to your core muscles. Your core is the epicenter of your body’s success, helping you with everything from stabilization to breathing.The best part of core exercises is that they can be executed without any added weight—your body alone can add resistance to crank up the intensity of the exercise and continue to challenge you. The number of core exercises and variations are seemingly endless, but let’s face it: the motivation to actually complete an ab workout solo or at the end of the rest of your workout can be low. These five exercises in particular are ideal; they’re going to attack all parts of your core, can be done from the comfort of your living room carpet, and will keep you from the mundane routine of crunching yourself into oblivion.

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    Planks are the most classic core move there is, but despite its constant presence in ab routines and group fitness classes, it never gets easy. Starting out on your forearms, extend your legs back behind you and come onto your toes, making yourself flat as a board. Now, it’s time to hold for as long as you can, or to do sets of 30-second rounds. The challenge here comes from ensuring your butt is down and your back is flat. Plank intensity can be increased by raising a leg, an arm, or both to add some instability. This exercise not only has a ton of options for variation, including side planks or raised planks, but it works all the muscles in your core at once.

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    Bird dogs will help strengthen the core through both contraction and balance. This move will help to train your whole core, and will help strengthen your lower back. Start out in a tabletop position on your hands and knees. Extend one arm out and at the same time, extend the opposite leg out. Then, bring both the extended arm and leg in underneath your stomach and squeeze. You can do a certain number of reps on one side and then switch sides, or do alternating reps. The element of balance comes in when the arm and leg are extended, and the other arm and leg are responsible for keeping you stable.

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    You’ll be channeling your inner superhero with this one. Contrary to popular belief, your lower back muscles are a part of your core—it’s not just about the washboard stomach up front. Start out lying on your stomach, and to execute one rep, contract your arms and legs up off the floor. After holding for a second, you’ll drop back down. Supermans work as a good counter-exercise to all of the other abdominal work you’re doing.

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    The tricky part about core work is that there are so many different muscles to train. Flutter kicks are an effective way to strengthen your lower abdominal muscles. Start out by lying on the floor and put your hands underneath your glutes or lower back. Next, raise your legs, shoulders, and head off the floor, and from there, you’ll begin to flutter your legs up and down, alternating which leg goes up while the other is coming down. This exercise can be done for time or for a number of reps. It’s important that you keep your legs, shoulders, and head raised off the ground the entire time. You may feel your neck and shoulders becoming tense, and if that’s the case, you can lower your head and shoulders to the floor and just focus on the leg motion. This won’t alter the results or benefit from the movement, but will help you to avoid injury. Once you become more comfortable with the movement itself, you can add back in the challenge of lifting your neck and shoulders off of the ground. 

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    Russian twists will help to burn out the main part of your core, and also turn up the heat on your obliques. Start out on the ground in a seated position, and raise your feet up off the ground. Next, you’ll literally twist from side-to-side, touching the floor beside your legs while keeping your feet raised. To increase the intensity, you can lean back further with your upper body creating a more difficult angle. This exercise is plenty tough without weight, but adding a dumbbell, heavy book, or detergent bottle will give an extra challenge. More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Saudi Arabia’s Princess Reema makes history again with new official appointment

    Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud has officially been elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday.
    It’s a history-making moment, as she becomes the first Saudi female ambassador to be appointed as a member of the IOC.

    Upon her official appointment, the princess took to Twitter to share how “honoured” she was to be elected onto the committee.
    “Thank you to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, HRH Crown Prince, and Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal [President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee] for their support,” she added. “It has been an honour to serve my community through the universal language of sports.”

    Honored to be elected as a member of #IOC. Thank you to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, HRH Crown Prince, and @AbdulazizTF for their support. It has been an honor to serve my community through the universal language of sports. @iocmedia @saudiolympic pic.twitter.com/vLsNltgz0c
    — Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud) July 17, 2020

    She is the third Saudi to be appointed into this position. Prior to her, the late Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Bin Abdulaziz held the position from 1983 to 1999 and Prince Nawwaf Bin Faisal Bin Fahd held it from 2001 to 2014.
    Princess Reema, who is Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States and the first female in the position, is joined by four other new candidates to be appointed to the IOC.
    The appointment of Princess Reema to the IOC is a pivotal moment, but is also not surprising given her background and advocacy for sports in the Kingdom.
    Prior to being appointed the Saudi ambassador for the US in 2019, Princess Reema was the first woman in the Kingdom to lead a multi-sports federation, becoming president of the Mass Participation Federation in October 2018.
    She also been a member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee since 2017 and of the IOC Women in Sports Commission since 2018.
     – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied More