You may call her a visionary, a trailblazer or even a pioneer in the field of mental health. Her Highness Sayyida Basma Bint Fakhri Al Said is all that and much more.
The Omani royal stands as a catalyst for transformative change and has dedicated her time and unwavering efforts to spearhead the evolution of mental health in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the wider GCC. Her daring commitment transcends borders, making her an esteemed reform icon across the region.
Who Is HH Sayyida Basma Bint Fakhri Al Said?
Hailing from a diverse background, HH Sayyida Basma was born in the UK to an Omani father and British mother but grew up in Oman and made the world her platform for gaining a vast sense of knowledge. Her education journey ranged from Jordan to Australia to the USA at Harvard and Michigan university.
Through this, she has been able to seamlessly blend her insights from a multifaceted and multicultural background to aid those grappling with mental health issues.
A pioneer in mental health
With a vision in her mind and a multifaceted background and knowledge in hand, the princess was on a mission to tackle the taboo subject of mental health. She became the first woman in Oman to open a mental health clinic in 2012. Named Whispers of Serenity, the clinic addresses all types of mental health issues and offers a range of new-age treatments like art, creativity and mindfulness.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Omani royal noted that many were forced to look inward and confront their struggles with matters pertaining to mental health. Issues that needed to be addressed without a delay. Her clinic in response, had set up hotlines for all to access and even launched online therapy sessions.
Her Highness took things one step forward by actively providing communities in India, Beirut and currently Palestinians with free counselling to help cope with the travesty that has unfolded.
With a deep passion for the field of psychology, the royal specialises in PTSD, helping victims of child abuse and domestic violence. Her will to make waves in the field has garnered her attending and delivering 800 governmental and 400 private institutional talks, workshops and webinars. She has come up with multiple campaigns that tackle issues such as loneliness and bullying amongst youth, further proving her area of knowledge isn’t limited to just one subject and isn’t one to shy away from debilitating matters.
Her impact runs on a global level, earning her accolades such as International Social Responsibility Ambassador by The International Union for Social Responsibility (IUSR). She has even been honoured with the title distinguished 50 Omani women who have played a pivotal role in the development of the country, by the Honorable Lady, Wife of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
In 2022, Sayyida Basma was welcomed as one of the new members of the Medical and Health Programming Board while at the same time, The Diana Award, a prestigious organisation unveiled the Omani royal becoming the first Arab individual to serve as a judge, evaluating young talents in the burgeoning field of social work.
All of which not only credits her contribution to the mental health industry but also showcases her worldly impact and knowledge that benefit all those around her.
