MENTAL WELLBEING A HEALTH PRIORITY

What prevention, families and physical activity mean for the UAE

- BY DR RASHED AL SUWAIDI | Special to Gulf News

Mental wellbeing is often discussed through the lens of clinical care — therapy, counselling, and treatment delivered once challenges have already taken hold.

From a public health perspective, however, mental health is shaped much earlier and far more broadly. It is influenced by the environments people live in, the habits they form, the opportunities they have to stay active, and the social and family structures that support daily life.

As health leaders, our responsibility is not limited to responding once illness appears. It extends to identifying and addressing population-level risk factors that affect communities long before individuals enter clinical settings.

One of the most significant, yet most overlooked, of these factors is physical inactivity. A substantial body of global research now shows that how much people move, starting early in life, plays a meaningful role in emotional resilience, stress regulation, and long-term mental wellbeing.

Physical inactivity a major risk factor

The World Health Organisation recognises physical inactivity as a major risk factor not only for noncommunicable diseases, but also for poorer mental health outcomes.

Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve mood, and support cognitive and emotional functioning across age groups. These effects are particularly important for children and adolescents, whose mental wellbeing is strongly shaped by daily routines and environments.