Mental Health in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mental Health in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia refers to the various forms of support and mental healthcare provided to individuals suffering from mental health disorders, such as depression, stress, anxiety, separation anxiety disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

The Kingdom is actively working to improve mental healthcare, with Saudi laws ensuring that healthcare is provided to all citizens under the Basic Law of Governance, covering situations such as emergencies, illness, disability, and old age. The Mental Healthcare Law was enacted in 2014, aiming to organize and enhance the necessary mental healthcare for mental health patients, protect their rights, maintain their dignity, and ensure the well-being of their families and society. The law also established mechanisms for treating mental health patients and dealing with them in psychotherapy facilities.

The "Mental and Social Health General Department", established in 1983, focuses on allocating necessary financial resources for mental healthcare, developing modern infrastructure, and training personnel. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, the Ministry of Health aims to develop a new patient-centered healthcare system that ensures the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the patient. To this end, the number of general mental health clinics has increased to ninety-nine clinics and twenty-seven public hospitals.

On July 3, 2019, the National Center for Mental Health Promotion was established. This center is organizationally linked to the Ministry of Health and has an independent legal, financial, and administrative personality. The center aims to develop national programs that promote mental health and enhance the quality of life for community members. It also seeks to encourage positive participation and support the most vulnerable groups through specific plans and programs to achieve its goals.

The Kingdom allocates four percent of its healthcare budget to mental health disorders, which is above the global average of two percent. There are about eighteen mental health professionals (doctors, nurses, and social workers) for every one hundred thousand citizens. Recent statistics show that depression and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illnesses following the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted the mental health of many residents. A survey conducted during the pandemic revealed that about 21 percent of respondents experienced moderate to severe depression, 18 percent experienced anxiety, and 13 percent experienced stress.

As part of its efforts to provide mental healthcare, the Kingdom conducted the first comprehensive survey, the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS), in 2010. The second survey, conducted in 2019, included 4,004 male and female participants aged fifteen to sixty-five. The results showed that two out of five young Saudis had been diagnosed with a mental disorder at some time in their lives. The survey also revealed that 83 percent of Saudis with severe mental disorders do not seek treatment and that about 8.5 percent of the population consults religious or non-medical therapists.

The second survey indicated that 34 percent of Saudis were diagnosed with mental health disorders at some time in their lives. The common disorders identified were separation anxiety disorder, ADHD, major depressive disorder, social phobia, and OCD.

The Kingdom has introduced initiatives in the field of mental healthcare, including the direct contact center at the Ministry of Health and the "Ajwad" application, which focuses on rehabilitation services for psychiatric patients and the homeless. Additionally, "Qareboon" application offers electronic mental health services, free psychological treatments, and consultations, along with contact service with the Mental Health Consultation Center.