Why we are opening our doors because of Covid-19 when everyone else is closing theirs
As in the rest of the world, Cambodia is dealing with some very tough times as a result of Covid-19. While it has been spared the worst of the virus to date, with total cases generally hovering around the zero mark for several weeks, the economic impact has been huge and devastating. Tourism is a hugely important industry here, and many businesses have been forced to close, either by law (such as gyms and karaoke bars) or by dwindling customers (such as airlines and hotels). The knock on effect on well-being, stress and fear over future, particularly among the country’s poorest and most vulnerable, is impossible to measure but almost certainly deeper than we realise.
That’s exactly why we are planning to buck the trend by opening the doors to The Beekeeper for the first time next month. The Beekeeper is a new social enterprise in the heart of Phnom Penh, a partnership of five qualified therapists and psychologists who will be offering a range of therapy, well-being and healing services to people in need of support.
One of our primary goals is to make mental health services more available and affordable to Cambodians then they have ever been before, including the offering of free or subsidised support to vulnerable children who have experienced tragedy or trauma.
Our plans were already well under way when the Covid-19 crisis struck and of course there were discussions over whether it was the right time to open after all. The discussions were short, since we partners rapidly came to the conclusion that the time had never been more right. It helped that unlike other enterprises offering well-being services in Phnom Penh, we are mostly focused on reaching Cambodian clients, so the fact many foreigners have returned home is not a great problem for us. We also recognise that we are fortunate enough to be able to work in a safe way, since our new centre is large enough to make good hygiene and proper distancing easy.
But the most important reason of all is the huge toll all experts agree that the Covid-19 crisis is having on mental health across the world. We know first hand that many people have suffered greatly during this crisis, whether troubled by their health, their families’ well-being, their jobs or the future of Cambodia. The United Nations has also made clear its concerns over mental health across the planet. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message launching a mental health policy brief this week: “The COVID-19 virus is not only attacking our physical health; it is also increasing psychological suffering: grief at the loss of loved ones, shock at the loss of jobs, isolation and restrictions on movement, difficult family dynamics, uncertainty and fear for the future.”
As mental health practitioners who are fortunate to live in a country with few cases and without a strict lockdown in place, we want to step up. We want to play a key role in Cambodia’s recovery through a range of community, therapeutic and mental health services, drawing on Eastern philosophies and Western approaches. Whether a person is looking for individual therapy or family counselling, or wants to use yoga and meditation as tools to improve well-being, we will be offering support that fits them. As a social enterprise we will be pouring any profits back into our business, and that means we can offer our services at reduced rates for Cambodians who have limited financial means.
We know that many other mental health practitioners and centres around the world are living in countries with restrictions that make doing their work through normal structures much more difficult. We are inspired by the creativity and passion of so many of our peers around the world, who are using technology to reach their clients. It’s up to all of us who work in mental health to find new ways to connect with those who need us, and while there is little about this situation to inspire happiness, we do feel great pride in joining this great global endeavour.
