The Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lab Newsletter Issue#8

Positive Psychology

NEWSLETTER

Issue 8, Spring 2022

Dear readers, It has been an eventful semester for us! We proudly celebrated our four-year anniversary in February. There is much to celebrate as the first phase of the establishment of the lab concludes. In this short duration, we have managed to physically establish the lab and create connections with people and organizations working towards the same goal of improving mental health and wellbeing in society.

I feel we have raised awareness about positive psychology techniques and interventions so that people can apply it in their lives to enhance wellbeing.

During these four years we have also organized many events and campaigns to improve understanding of mental illnesses, fight against misconceptions, encourage people to seek help and connect mental health resources with people.

IN THIS ISSUE 4 year anniversary celebration Partnerships Mindful Ramadan The PPWRL Lab over the years

We have also provided support to students during stressful times such as exams and the recent pandemic.

With the commencement of Saudi Vison 2030, there has been an increased focus on wellbeing, fulfillment, and happiness at all levels in the country. The lab, in its capacity, is also contributing to this vision.

Research is an important component of development. It will help us identify issues faced by people and figure out the most effective way to solve them. As most theory in psychology is based on a western society, it needs to be adapted to better meet the needs of the Middle East.

Research and assessment development that takes into account local cultures, traditions and beliefs is essential. We are also witnessing the growth and progress of Islamic Psychology.

"No matter what job you have, even when it's one you love, it's important to take some time away, both mentally and physically, to regroup, refresh and regain good, positive energy".

- Author: Ali Krieger

Dr Saddiga Jaber AlGhalib Founder This will remove hesitation from people to seek mental health help if treatment is in line with their beliefs.

As often happens in life, we sometimes need to take time to regroup, recharge and refocus. So, this year we have decided to focus on impactful and relevant research, development and publishing. We are looking forward to the future!

The theme for this edition of the newsletter is lavender. This color was chosen as it symbolizes the wildflowers that blossom during Spring season in the Kiingdom. It is also a symbol of generosity, elegance, grace and calmness.

This newsletter will include the four-year anniversary celebration, our paartnership agreements, Mindful Ramadan calendars and an overview of the lab’s events and activities over the years.

I hope you enjoy reading it!

4 year anniversary celebration This February marked 4 years since the establishment of the lab. We organized an interactive event on February 28th to celebrate this achievement. The event included three guest speakers – Professor AbdulMannan Bar, Ms Maisa AlShaldan, and Ms. Umniah AlZahery.

The event hall also included a display of art works by many talented artists. It ended with a panel discussion and cake cutting. To celebrate 4 years of the lab, the theme for the anniversary was the four elements of air, water, fire and earth.

4 year anniversary celebration IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH Professor AbdulMannan Bar is a leader in the field of Positive Psychology in the region. He has published multiple research projects in the discipline.

Research plays a vital role in understanding people, what motivates them and what makes them happy.

Research that caters to the unique culture and needs of the country is critical to formulating effective policies and improving the lives of people.

Through research and analysis, we can create assessments and interventions to improve the mental health of the community while keeping in mind the belief systems of the people. During his talk, Professor AbdulMannan Bar shed light on the importance of research.

While Western techniques and interventions are beneficial, it is important to understand the cultural differences when these techniques are applied to a Middle Eastern society. As such there is a need for conducting research, creating programs and assessments relevant to the region.

RESILIENCE Sometimes in life we come across stories of human strength, courage and determination that really change how we approach our struggles and disappointments in life. One such story belongs to Umniah AlZahery. She is an incredibly inspiring entrepreneur who has battled with cancer. Her story is one of bravery, patience and steadfastness in the face of adversity. Cancer is a disease that strikes a person not just physically but also psychologically.

Research has shown that the rate of depression among cancer patients can be up to three times higher. Under these circumstances, it requires extraordinary spirit to fight through the uncertainty. Justice will not be done Umniah’s story by focusing on just the result. We were honored to hear through her words, her journey, her struggles, her emotions and how she found the strength to beat cancer. We believe that her story can inspire and educate us and perhaps also pave the way to understanding the importance of better mental health care for cancer patients in the future.

4 year anniversary celebration

ART Art is the expression of the soul. It captures the human story in a beautiful presentation. We believe that it is a window to the artist’s expressions, feelings, and emotions. It provides them an opportunity to convey their sentiments and to share their joys and burdens with others. Art and music are an important medium in history through which the lives of people at a particular place and time are recorded.It offers a connection to our past, our culture and our heritage.

It depicts the achievements, struggles, and happenings of different eras in history. It could be a way we pass down our stories too. We also believe that art is a source of inspiration and encouragement to the observer. There may be a particular art piece that we can relate to, one that showcases our inner

thoughts, or perhaps provides us with a sense of belonging. Art makes us look beyond the daily mundane and ponder over life. A review for the WHO notes that there is growing evidence that mental and physical health is positively impacted by the arts. This positive impact is felt across all ages and can help in child development, encouraging healthy habits, improving mental illness, and supporting end of life care (Fancourt & Finn, 2019). We were very fortunate to have Ms. Maisa Shaldan with us on our 4-year anniversary celebration. She is an amazing artist whose pieces inspire and stimulate our senses. We were also honored to have an opportunity to display works by many amazing artists.

Their extraordinary talent is evident from their art. The celebration also included music by Ms. Doujana Khalil and Ms. Mayan Akram. We are very grateful that these artists have supported and encouraged us through our journey over the years.

Artists We are grateful to all the artists who displayed their wonderful creations for the 4 year anniversary celebration.

Shahad Al Sonare @sh.7411

Samirah Manssor @s_artist1

Hasseh Alborie @bride.to.be.741

Hams Hassan @hams7278

Sarah Alzahrani @s_soona37

Rawan Alghamdi @ran.huss

Monaia Mohammed @naiashome

Sultan Alotman @sultan_alotman

Rahaf Khalif @rahaf11o

Fawaz Binkolaib @fawaz_designs

Mahmoud Morsy @dr.mahmoud_art

Nawaf Waleed @na_n116

Ahmad Hasil @eglahmad

Bad Abdulkareem @artonacci

Mohammed Wahas @mw781

Abdulrahman Hassan @rahman_the_artist

Partnerships ETIZAN THERAPY CENTER Etizan is a therapy and counselling center in Jeddah founded by Ms. Najla AlThaqafi to provide mental health services to people. We are extremely proud to have signed an MoU with Etizan therapy center. The general objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to stimulate and facilitate the organization and management of psychology workshops to enhance the happiness and life satisfaction levels of individuals and the community and conduct research to gain a better understanding of what makes people happy.

EMIRATES CENTER FOR HAPPINESS RESEARCH The PPWR Lab facilitated the signing of an MoU between Effat University and Emirates Center for Happiness Research at the United Arab Emirates University. The Happiness Center "aims to research and provide appropriate, evidence-based and implementable measures to enhance happiness and wellbeing and resolve the factors affecting them" (uaeu.ac.ae/). The MoU was signed to collaborate expertise, resources and experiences to conduct relevant research and have a positive impact on society.

Mindful Ramadan Calendar Ms. Maryam Patel, a valued member of the lab, created a four-week calendar to achieve a mindful Ramadan. Check out our instagram @positive.inspiring.happiness for more information!

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

Mindful Ramadan Calendar WEEK 3

WEEK 4

THE PPWRL LAB OVER THE YEARS FALL 2018 The lab was founded on 28th February, 2018 by Dr. Saddiga Al-Ghalib and her former students Shaden Al-Khalifah, Afeefah Salim, and Rana Dahlawi. The team was brought together by their passion for the scientific pursuit of answers.

SPRING 2019 One year anniversary The lab published two studies and a chapter.

FALL 2019 The PPWR Lab organised the “Effat Mental Health Day “on 30th Octoberm 2019. The theme for the year was “Changing the dialogue – Shedding light on depression”.

THE PPWRL LAB OVER THE YEARS SPRING 2020 Plantation trip Green space project Ramadan Coping with stress initiative Online support sessions

SPRING 2021 The PPWR lab received Honorable Mention for the 2021 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship. We were recognized for our continued civic and community engagement work.

3- year anniversary webinar

FALL 2021 91st Saudi National day celebration 3rd Biennial International Psychology conference - The PPWR Lab played a major role in organizing the second day of the conference.

Our team Our dynamic team is comprised of Dr Saddiga AlGhalib, Adeelah Yahya,

Afeefah

Yahya,

AlBatoul

Al

Shaiban,

Amnah

A

Yamani,Bashayer khalifah, Joud Altamimi, Lujain Faqerah, Madiha Khayat, Maryam Patel, Rana Dahlawi, Sarah Ikhtabi, Sarah Sultan, Shaden Al Khalifah, Shahad Al Sonare, Sundus Fazal ur Rehman and Tamara Gazzaz.

Join Us! You can Join our team of contributors to work on content development or donate to the development of the lab. To learn moe about the lab and view our previous newsletters please follow the link below: https://www.effatuniversity.edu.sa/English/Research/ResearchLabs/Positive-Psychology/Pages/Join-Now.aspx

For inquiries regarding Positive Psychology & Well being Research Lab​, please contact us on

Email: saddigaj@gmail.com ppwresearchlab@gmail.com

Tel - +(966) 54 077 7731 Address: Administration and Registration Building, Room 301, Effat University, Jeddah ​21478 Kingdom of Sa​​udi Arabia.

Positive.Inspiring.Happiness

PPWResearchLab

@WellbeingJeddah