The Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lab Newsletter Issue#4

ISSUE 4. SPRING 2020

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Hello! Hope you are well rested and ready for action after the Ramadan break! This Spring semester Involved a series of initiatives to maintain and improve our mental health in the midst of a crisis situation. The semester started with a lot of uncertainty and fear of the unknown as the Corona pandemic gripped the globe. With time and through social distancing practices we hove managed to get the number of Infections o bit under control.

Countries around the world hove slowly started opening up and easing restrictions. Saudi Arabia is also lifting lockdown restrictions in phases.

Experts are predicting that this pandemic will hove a huge impact on mental health of the society. In fact. some notional surveys in countries ore already revealing high prevalence of distress. The UN has warned that people who hod been coping well earlier might not be doing so good right now. A combination of many stressors such as social isolation, fear of losing loved ones. not being able to hold funerals. job uncertainty and others is leading to a rise in anxiety and depression levels.

The UN has also warned of increased domestic violence and substance abuse. The most vulnerable people are the elderly, young children and teens, women. frontline workers and those who were already suffering from mental health issues.

Hence, there is on elevated and immediate need for investment in infrastructure. mental health Governments, organizations and Individuals need to work together to help the vulnerable sections of society. The Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lob launched a few initiatives to support the mental health of individuals and society. We have also undertaken research to investigate factors that con contribute to lowering stress and anxiety levels.

Another initiative we hove started this semester Is to publish scientific articles

by Posiitive Psychology experts. Our aim is to raise awareness on the subject matter and convey verified and accurate information to everyone.

We will adopt, survive and thrive. We are aiming to be strong. resilient. hopeful and positive despite oil odds.

We are all in this together and we will overcome!

-Dr Soddlgo Al Ghoilb

01: PLANTATION TRIP

02: GREEN SPACE AND WELLBEING

PROJECT

03: EXPLORING THE HISTORIC TOWN Of

BALAD

04: MINDFULNESS CALENDAR 05: ONLINE SUPPORT SESSIONS 06: RAMADAN INITIATIVE - COPING

WITH STRESS

07:GRATITUDE PROJECT 08: ARTICLE

We e r 1· un gcd n plunlution trip to lh C celcbrule l \VU•ycur un11 ivcrsu1·y of' l he csluhli sh incnl of the lub. It wus 11chcclulccl for the 2!1th uf rchruury. The trip \V ll 8 urrungccl In colluborotion ,vi t h Buhju Curdcn11 LO cncourugc cnvironn1cnt con1:1ciou11ncss in the co111111uni1y.

Mil. Modihu Khuyut is Lhc founder of' Buhju gurdcnfi und I� 1111 11vid gardener and ugriculturc cnthusiu11L. Thill t r ip ,vu II u p ur t o f t h c J u1 noo nt Pr O j e e I I h r O LI g h l hC \V h iC h • gO V C I' 11 nl C 11 t U I Ill II l O C r C U I C U greener country by 1,lunting 1norc trccl'I. Pnrticipunts planted trcef! nnd learned ohout locnl horticulture, plunt soil und ty p C 8 • I l \\I O S O n i 11 f O I ' ,,, U l iV C II n d fun trip.

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Green space and Wellbeing Project One of Lhc UilllS of the PPWR Lab is Lo w1<lenuke research 10 help people achieve fulfilling and thriving lives. This Spring se1nester \\'e conducted u research in collaboruLion with Madiha Khayal w1d Buhja Gardens titled "The Effect of an Indoor Cree□ Space On Students' Wellbeing, Happiness, Stress, Depression and Nlood: The CUHe of Lhc Saudi Arabia University". \Ve had conducted u pilol study for the smne research the previous semester. The aim of tbis study is to iuvestigute the effects of un indoor green space environment on ihe ,vellbeing of students in Saudi Arabia. The signilicuncc of this study i s that indoor green spaces can be used to reduce SI ress levels in orguni:iulions and enhance ,vdJbcing and life sulisfuction.

Creenspuce is a general tein1 thut is used to describe environmental areas that either are groo1necl or re1nain unmuiutuined. In urban contexts, greenspaces are usually creuted for recreational or aesthetic purposes. Previous stuclies hove sho,vn n positive correlation bet,veen greenspace uncl n1cntul heaJtJ1 and ,vclJbeing.

People ,vho live in areas ,vith more green spuce experience less stsess unx.iety und depression wid huve greater wellbeing and heulthier cortisol profiles.

Preliminary results indicate • an improvement in stress and anxiety levels amongst students.

For the purpose of the reseurch, \\fl' se1 up n green space in thl' I.uh. It involved 1nore than HlO responclent11. The Htudenls ,v..,re 118ked to spend tfi minutes in the green room in group>1 of four Pleusunt und soothing 1nusic \Vll!I pluyt'd in the buc-kgrouncl.

Pur1it-ipun1s could 1n1ernc1 ,vith e11t'11 01her und u>1c· 1heir phone11.

Ho,vr,·er, Ihey \\'ere not ullowed to make or rcc·eivc culls. Th(' 111ucll•n111 were nskcd 10 tukt> u short stress survey before and after lhl' expcrin1en1.

Exploring the historic town 01 Balad Balad Is a r.iistorical and cultural district

�ESCO

1ntr1cote museums