Special Announcement

  • Per the recommendation of the WBG, the Family Network will be working remotely the week of April 13-17, 2026 due to Spring Meetings. Our physical office will be closed, but we are here for you by phone or by email to support you. Email: Familynetwork@worldbank.org or Phone: 202-473-8751 Our office will be resuming our normal schedule on Monday, April 20th.

     
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Chronic Pain: What It Is, Why It Persists, and What Helps

Chronic pain is more than just a physical experience — it can affect emotional well‑being, mental health, relationships, and daily life. Whether you live with chronic pain yourself or support someone who does, understanding the full picture is key to effective management.

The World Bank Group’s Health & Safety Directorate (HSD) is hosting an informative session exploring why chronic pain persists and how psychological and emotional factors influence the pain experience. The session will also share practical, evidence‑based tools for understanding and managing chronic pain, including everyday strategies and insights into how talk therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help.

📅 Date: Tuesday, May 19
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (Washington, DC / EST)

📍 How to join:

  • Online: Microsoft Teams
  • In person: World Bank Main Complex (1818 H Street NW), Room 6‑860

👤 Speaker: Abir Aldhalimi, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
🎙️ Host: Dr. Stuart Fisher, Manager, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Health & Safety Directorate

What you’ll learn

  • How chronic pain and mental health influence one another
  • How thoughts, stress, and relationships shape the experience of pain
  • Practical tools and coping strategies for managing chronic pain

🔗 Join the session (Teams):
Meeting ID: 257 029 910 288 61
Passcode: Ta6Wa2YX

This session is open to all staff and family members.