Dubai Health Authority holds 'Care for the Caregiver' conference

Derived from the theme, 'caring is a universal occupation', the conference discussed aspects of a caregiver's profession including secondary traumatic stress which caregivers may go through due to the nature of their work.

About 400 healthcare professionals from all over the UAE including nurses attended the conference.

Roxanne Nematollahi, PhD, RN, ACNP, CON(c), Senior Development Officer, Department of Medical Education at the DHA, said, "The main goal of organizing such a conference is to extend our support for healthcare professionals who care for the sick at any stage and/or in any setting. Caregivers go about their work selflessly but the nature of their work may sometimes cause them to go through secondary traumatic stress, burnout, caregiver stress and vicarious traumatization. Over a period of time, secondary burnout and stress accumulate in the body as energy residue. The aim of conference is to make them aware of these issues and to understand the underlying causes for the same. We educated caregivers on how to get rid of energy residue and recharge the body and mind."

The conference also discussed positive and negative aspects of stress and vital elements needed to sustain good health.

Dr JeKan Adler-Collins, Associate Professor, Fukuoka Prefectural University Japan, in his keynote discussed the reasons why caregivers care so little about their own suffering. "Why it is that our profession views caring for others so highly and caring for oneself as selfish?" he elaborated.

He highlighted the need for all caregivers to take time out for themselves and urged them to ensure they take care of themselves.

Nurses from Rashid hospital and Welcare hospital shared their experiences of stress and the emotional turmoil that the profession sometimes brings with it.

Other topics discussed included the biology of stress, overcoming your pessimistic thoughts through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 'CBT' understanding early signs of burnout and cultural identity challenges.

The event concluded with a speech from Fitness First Group on Circle of Wellness and taking care for oneself.