COVID-19 has impacted many aspects of life, including mental health. The Jordanian YES alumni community held a session on how to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in order to learn directly from a mental health professional. Alumna Hiba AlSheyab reached out to the psychiatrist, Dr. Falah Tamimi, who led the online webinar on “How to Mentally Deal with COVID-19."

On August 28, 23 YES alumni attended the online session to learn new strategies to mentally deal with the challenges that COVID-19 has presented to the world. Dr. Falah began the discussion with a personal introduction, and afterwards he talked about how the quarantine affected people’s relationships and behaviors. Dr. Falah noted some of the behaviors and thoughts he has observed, including the increase in overthinking and anxiety, the struggle to find inner motivation to continue with regular life, and the overwhelming feeling of uncertainty and worry about the future. 

Following this discussion, Dr. Falah listened to the YES alumni’s questions and concerns. Many of the YES alumni provided feedback on the importance of holding online sessions about health topics, and they are looking forward to learning more about mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hiba AlSheyab (YES 2014-2015, Jordan, placed with ASSE in Mead, Colorado)