The Oman Daily Observer organised the 12th edition of its Observer Roundtable discussion, titled “The emotional conundrum in the post-Covid-19 era”. The event was aimed at brainstorming on the contemporary topic of post-Covid emotional impacts and its long and short-term results. The discussion invited participants to draw a better intellectual approach by the stakeholders.
The key speakers of Wednesday’s debate were Dr Hamed al Sinawi, an eminent psychiatrist, Sarah Said, an educationist, and Davis Kallukkaran, an auditing specialist and finance personnel. Abdullah bin Salim al Shueili, Chief Editor of Oman Observer Daily, was the Guest of Honour, while Lakshmi Kothaneth presented the event.
The discussion delved into the various facets of the pandemic and the need to provide emotional support to those who are traumatised in several ways. Reporters from the Daily were in attendance to cover the event.
During the debate, the speakers discussed the negative and positive impacts of Covid-19.
Dr Al Sinawi emphasised the psychological impact of the pandemic on society, which included fear psychosis, sleep problems, depression, anxiety and worrying about getting infected, among others. According to him, one out of five people experienced fear syndrome due to Covid-19, ranging from job loss to exam failure. He also noted that the elderly and women were more affected due to their reduced immunity and higher anxiety levels, respectively. However, he mentioned that the emergence of online life was the major positive impact of the pandemic, which paved the way for technological advancements.
The event also highlighted the effects of the pandemic on education, where educators, parents and students faced various challenges, including finding alternatives to traditional learning and protecting children from cyberbullying and other cyber-attacks.
Sarah Said, an educator, emphasised the need for a shift in the pattern of education and a newer method of teaching. She noted that collaboration between teachers and students is crucial, and the policy of appointing qualified teachers is essential to adopt a balanced approach.
The discussion also covered the effects of Covid-19 on businesses and industries.
Davis Kallukkaran explained that the pandemic caused major disruption in the supply chain, affecting almost all countries due to the restrictions on mobility. Small-scale businesses were severely impacted during the pandemic, with many facing losses and closure.
However, Kallukkaran also highlighted the positive impact of Covid-19, which led to innovations in the business sector, including the emergence of e-commerce.
Overall, the Oman Observer Debate shed light on the emotional and psychological impact of Covid-19 and the need for emotional support for those affected by the pandemic. The event also highlighted the positive aspects of the pandemic, including technological advancements and innovations in education and business.
— Pictures by Huda al Bahriya
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