Sheikha Majda Al-Sabah can be described as an ambassador of positivity, a resilient fighter, and an iron woman who allows nothing to break her, deter her determination, or dampen her spirit. Her passion drives her to do many things, including learning and discovering, which have shaped her distinctive and unique personality.

Sheikha Majda is the daughter of Sheikh Jaber Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the sister of the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. She is married to Sheikh Abdullah, the son of the current Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. She has three sisters, and her brother is Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah, the owner of Villa Moda, a well-known figure in the local and global fashion world.

Her humanitarian and social contributions became prominent during the COVID-19 crisis, carrying a noble message aimed at breaking the stigma associated with mental illness in the Middle East. She launched the "ASAP" initiative, a special campaign funded by the brand "ASAP Beauty," which she co-founded. The initiative aims to raise awareness about mental illness and fund local, regional, and international initiatives.

Her personality embodies positivity and optimism, believing that the future will be better regardless of the challenges we face. Today, we host her on Oudh.com to learn more about her role during the recent COVID-19 crisis as part of the national psychological counseling program CoronaCareKW, which provides psychological support and answers to common questions to reduce the stress and anxiety caused by the virus.

How do you view the COVID-19 crisis today?

For me, the COVID-19 pandemic was a rich experience full of lessons that we should fully benefit from. It corrected many of our thoughts and beliefs and revealed the flawed ones. Despite its difficulties, it carried many positives and bright sides that will remain etched in my memory forever.

What has changed in you after this crisis?

I have become more focused on my true priorities and more productive.

What things did you previously think were important but realized they weren’t after COVID-19?

Social niceties, honestly, used to take a lot of our mental and physical energy, trying to please everyone, causing hidden pressure on us without realizing it. Social relationships are important, but limiting them to outings or gatherings is unfair to them. Staying in touch is what matters, regardless of the method.

What habits have you acquired during this crisis and which ones did you want to get rid of?

I worked on maintaining a healthy lifestyle by incorporating regular exercise into my daily routine and sticking to a healthy diet. I also developed a positive outlook on everything around me, no matter how bad things got. There’s always a good side to things, but we need to look closely. As for habits I wanted to get rid of, I have honestly been working on this for years, not just during this crisis. I regularly evaluate myself and strive for improvement. I used to be impatient and wanted things done immediately, which often led to disappointment and a lack of productivity. I learned to be patient and wise, taking the necessary time to plan and execute my goals to achieve satisfying results.

Can you tell us how you spent your time during the lockdown?

Like most working mothers, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, I made sure to divide my day in a way that gives each aspect of my life its due—myself, my family, my community, and my work. I spent my days between worship during this blessed month, maintaining family ties through phone calls, following up on my work and online meetings, spending more time with my husband and daughters, engaging in hobbies like painting and sports, trying new healthy recipes, and, of course, my constant love, reading.

Tell us about your mental health initiative. What does it consist of, and how did the idea come about?

The "ASAP" initiative for mental health awareness is a non-profit initiative aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of acknowledging mental challenges and not being ashamed to seek treatment, as it is as natural as seeking treatment for any physical illness. The idea began when I personally suffered from depression during my father’s illness. I didn’t realize at the time that I had a problem for which treatment was available. My desire to help others avoid suffering while treatment is available encouraged me to create this initiative and promote the culture of mental health and psychological treatment, not only in Kuwait but also in the Gulf and the Arab world.

Examples of the initiative’s achievements include:

• Organizing many lectures and workshops with the Social Development Office to combat suicide and use social media in a psychologically healthy way.
• Helping set up six outpatient clinics at the Kuwait Center for Mental Health to serve the elderly.
• Organizing a Ramadan campaign at a café that brought together young men and women in a dialogue with psychiatrists in a friendly atmosphere.
• Collaborating with a specialist in post-traumatic stress disorder therapy from the United States who came to Kuwait to conduct a workshop for 16 psychiatrists and mental health specialists to share her experiences and open doors for partnership and cooperation.
• Annually sponsoring the Middle East Psychologists Conference, which was supposed to be held in March but was canceled due to current circumstances.

What about your participation in the national psychological counseling program?

I was delighted to be chosen to join a group of elite psychiatrists, specialists, and volunteers from the media and technical fields in the CoronaCareKW national psychological counseling program. The program provides psychological support and answers the most frequently asked questions to reduce the stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19, whether for frontline workers, medical caregivers, infected individuals, or those in home quarantine from all segments of society. Our goal is to reduce excessive stress and anxiety to ensure stable mental health for the community.

How can we maintain a healthy mental life and avoid psychological stress?

Meditation and reading are part of my personal therapeutic practices to maintain stable mental health. Besides being among my favorite hobbies, they help keep my mind clear and my spirit pure. Therefore, I dedicate a part of my day before bed to reading and self-reflection. It is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular sleep, a balanced diet, and physical activity. Additionally, journaling and expressing thoughts and feelings have a great impact on maintaining an individual’s mental health and inner peace.

Have there been any situations that affected you and remain etched in your memory since the beginning of the crisis?

I confess that the COVID-19 pandemic increased my pride in my country and its people, who stood together to support each other, whether materially or morally. The spirit of humanity and nobility that emerged during this time amazed me and sometimes brought me to tears out of pride and admiration for seeing people rushing to help one another without prior acquaintance or any goal other than pure human compassion.

How do you view the national stance towards the crisis?

As I mentioned earlier, Kuwait, both government and people, proved to the world that its humanity is far greater than its geographical size. It is the only country that prioritized human beings without hesitation. The national spirit I witnessed during this crisis reassured me that our nation is in good hands as long as it possesses this spirit.

Do you think life will return to how it was before COVID-19?

On the contrary, it should not return to how it was! The COVID-19 crisis changed many of our concepts, both human and professional. The crisis proved that everything can be managed remotely electronically, without the need for traditional old methods that are a material and time burden. Productivity is not about the number of working hours or the physical presence of employees! Social interaction is not about frequent visits and meetings! Our interests should become nobler than before, and our community awareness should evolve, whether through future preventive measures or new behavioral habits.

From following your social media accounts, we see how positive and optimistic you are even in the midst of crises. Where do you draw this positive energy from?

There is no such thing as constant positivity! I am a human being with emotions, some positive and some negative. I go through days when I feel bad or sometimes discouraged, but I do not let this feeling dominate me! I deal with it momentarily, accept it in its time, and do not feel guilty about it. Accepting our feelings in all their diversity is part of maintaining our psychological and intellectual balance.

How do you view the future, and what are your upcoming plans?

I am optimistic and excited and expect the coming days to be better and more beautiful, God willing, whether for individuals, businesses, or Kuwait and the world as a whole. I have many plans for post-traumatic psychological crisis management, as well as several topics related to mental health for the post-COVID-19 pandemic stage, God willing.