Yesterday was the third anniversary of the death of Louis Smith, a 15-year-old British boy living in Abu Dhabi who took his own life. Louis’s story is well-known among British and other expats in the capital because of how similar his family situation was to that of many others. Outwardly he was happy, had friends and was doing well in school. His suicide took his parents completely by surprise.
Louis’s story is only one of several tragic suicides that have taken place in the UAE. Another well-known case is that of Abhimanyu Sadasivan, a 16-year-old Indian boy who took his own life in 2014. As with Louis, there were few warning signs with Abhimanyu, although he did give an indication of the pressures he felt on an exam paper.
The truth is that mental health issues can strike people of any age, but teenagers are particularly susceptible to stress, anxiety and even depression. That is the case everywhere in the world, but there are unique “stressors” to life in the UAE. For one, many teenagers will be away from a familiar environment. For those expats who have moved frequently around the world, their children may have experienced two, three or more countries and cities before they finish their schooling. That can mean they have friends they have not known for very long or access to fewer extended family members to whom they could confide their feelings.
As we reported yesterday, there are many benefits to being a “Third Culture Kid”, someone who grows up in a country other than that of their parents. But it also brings with it some unique experiences and challenges, one of which is that it can leave children prone to anxiety or depression.
Nothing will bring back Abhimanyu or Louis, but the best way to honour their memories is to keep talking about stress, depression and mental health issues. Help is available, whether you are a teenager wrestling with these issues, or an adult seeking help with children. The more open that society is about these issues, the fewer tragic cases will occur.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Company%20profile
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani