Saudi Arabia’s mental health revolution driven by awareness and accessibility

The country is paving the way for a future where mental health conversations are more widely embraced. (Pexels)
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Updated 09 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s mental health revolution driven by awareness and accessibility

  • Expert describes how younger generation is more accepting
  • Government support plays key role in improving perceptions

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is experiencing a shift in perceptions of mental health, driven by younger generations and supported by continuous education and outreach programs.

“In the past 20-30 years, there has been a huge advancement in the outlook towards mental health,” said Dr. Majid Al-Desouki, consultant psychiatrist and founder of Psyter, a Saudi mental health app.

In previous decades, mental health was considered a taboo topic, often misunderstood as a sign of weakness or moral failing.

FASTFACTS

• Digital tools like Psyter and Qareboon have revolutionized how mental health support is provided in Saudi Arabia.

• The National Center for Mental Health Promotion conducts training courses and works to enhance support across rural and urban areas through psychological assistance programs and community activities.

Dr. Al-Desouki told Arab News about how in the past, this misunderstanding sometimes led to drastic measures taken against individuals who exhibited signs of mental illness.

“Previously people would be embarrassed to admit that they had a mental health problem and would do their best to make it hidden,” said Dr. Al-Desouki.

“Now people don’t have a problem waiting in the waiting area in the mental health clinic or mentioning to their friends ‘I’ve seen this professional, and I recommend them to you,’” he said.

The National Center for Mental Health Promotion plays a central role in Saudi Arabia’s mental health landscape.

Established in 2019 to advance awareness, education, and accessibility, it is one of the key government-backed organizations dedicated to tackling stigma and expanding support services.

The center provides consultations through its mental health service app, Qareboon, conducts training courses, and works to enhance support across rural and urban areas through psychological assistance programs and community activities.

According to Sara Al-Duhayan, a 23-year-old student who has sought mental health support and witnessed the changes in perceptions in Saudi firsthand, attitudes have shifted even within families.

 “Five or so years ago, it was impossible for (my family) to acknowledge any sort of mental issue,” Al-Duhayan said.

“Now their viewpoint has changed. They realize it’s a normal thing for people to go through,” she added.

A key factor in this transformation is accessibility. Digital tools like Psyter and Qareboon have revolutionized how mental health support is provided in Saudi Arabia.

Psyter offers virtual therapy sessions, while Qareboon provides localized mental health resources and professional guidance. These platforms reduce the stigma of seeking help by allowing individuals to access support privately and conveniently.

Dr. Al-Desouki highlighted the practical benefits of such platforms, noting that for many people in rural areas, traveling to mental health clinics can be challenging due to time and distance.

“When it comes to geographical distance, people living in the extreme north of the country or the extreme south, if they’re in a village around Riyadh or any other city they’re not going to be able to find care anywhere near them,” Al-Desouki said.

“There must be a better way to help these people without having them either take a plane or drive and put themselves at risk of accidents just for an appointment,” he adds.

Digital tools offer a solution by saving time and bridging geographical gaps, making it easier for individuals to access support regardless of location.

Awareness campaigns have significantly reduced stigma. The National Center for the Promotion of Mental Health has promoted mental well-being through educational initiatives, community activities, and workplace programs across public and private sectors.

“Everyone is so much more aware about it,” said Al-Duhayan. “People encourage others to seek therapy and aren’t embarrassed to share their experiences.”

This shift is a testament to the effectiveness of continuous education and outreach programs.

Generational differences further illustrate the cultural shift. Younger Saudis, in particular, are at the forefront of this change, according to Dr. Al-Desouki. They openly discuss their struggles and actively seek help.

“A big reason for the change in perception is because a lot of the population is a younger generation who are more open to accessing mental health care and bettering themselves in that respect,” said Dr. Al-Desouki.

Older generations are also beginning to adopt a more accepting view of mental health. “Even that age group has changed in perception somewhat over the years,” he added.

Dr. Al-Desouki stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum of reducing stigma around mental health. “If you can prevent mental illness, the outcomes are much better than waiting for a condition to develop,” he said. “And a cornerstone of prevention is education.”

As Saudi Arabia continues educating its citizens and expanding mental health care access, it paves the way for a future where mental health is more widely embraced.

Sustained efforts in awareness and accessibility will ensure these changes endure, according to Dr. Al-Desouki.

“Mental health awareness is a continuous process; it shouldn’t stop,” he said.

 


Saudi Arabia ‘categorically rejects’ Israel’s plan to seize Gaza territory

Updated 08 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia ‘categorically rejects’ Israel’s plan to seize Gaza territory

  • Israeli authorities on Monday approved plans to take over territory and forcibly displace population
  • Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemns Israel’s violations of international law

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “categorically rejected” plans by Israel to expand its military operations in Gaza and seize control of the territory.

The ministry also “strongly condemned the continued Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law.”

Israeli authorities on Monday approved a new ground operation to take over parts of Gaza, forcibly displace Palestinians into the south of the territory, and control the distribution of humanitarian aid. The Israeli army is calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.

The announcement sparked widespread international condemnation. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said it stood firmly opposed to any attempted expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable for failures to comply with international resolutions.

The Kingdom continues to have “unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, in line with international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital,” the ministry added.


Saudi project destroys 600 more Houthi landmines and other explosives in Yemen

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi project destroys 600 more Houthi landmines and other explosives in Yemen

  • The devices, cleared from various parts of the war-torn country in recent months, were safely detonated on Wednesday
  • Project Masam has removed nearly 500,000 mines across Yemen since its launch in 2018

RIYADH: Members of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance, also known as Project Masam, safely detonated 600 mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive devices on Wednesday.

The project’s engineers had demined and removed the devices over the past few months from various parts of Yemen, including the town of Beihan and the districts of Usaylan and Ain in Shabwah governorate.

Hussein Al-Aqili, commander of the project’s survey team, said they carried out the destruction operation in the Thahba area of Ain district on Wednesday as part of their ongoing mission to clear mines and other remnants of war in Yemen, and save civilian lives.

The project has cleared nearly 500,000 mines from the country since its work there began in 2018.

Last week, Ousama Algosaibi, the managing director of Masam, warned that the Houthis continue to exploit periods of truce to plant more mines across Yemen.

“We are in a constant race with the Houthi militias; we clear mines from one side while they plant more on the other,” he said during an interview with Al-Ekhbariya TV.


Saudi ambassador meets Bahrain King’s media affairs adviser

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi ambassador meets Bahrain King’s media affairs adviser

Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi was received by Nabeel bin Yacoub Al-Hamer, media affairs adviser to the King of Bahrain, in Manama on Wednesday.

The adviser expressed his pride in the solid fraternal relations and deep-rooted historical ties that bind the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He also wished Al-Sudairi continued success in his duties, which will further support and strengthen the fraternal ties, mutual coordination, and close cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in various fields, and particularly in the media.


 


Saudi commission expands music access for people with disabilities

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi commission expands music access for people with disabilities

  • Push for accessible arts programming reflects wider goals for social development

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission has launched a national initiative to expand access to music education for people with disabilities, marking a key step toward their greater inclusion in the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.

Focused on Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar, the program trains instructors to teach students with physical and cognitive disabilities.

It supports the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to elevate quality of life and ensure opportunities for all segments of society.

Music education expert Issa Al-Qarbi praised the initiative as a transformative step in supporting individuals with disabilities.

“Music is a highly effective medium for stimulating brain activity, developing motor and social skills, and enhancing overall psychological well-being,” he said.

The initiative includes adapting teaching methods, specialized curricula and fully accessible learning environments aligned with the requirements of the Mowaamah certification, a program which provides support to increase participation among disabled individuals in the labor market.

In designing the program, the commission partnered with international experts in music on the curricula and programs that align with global best practices.

The existing models were reviewed using the standards set by the National Association for Music Education.

The commission’s goal is to empower students to express themselves through music, boost their self-confidence and enhance their social, cognitive and motor skills.

The students will receive extended training that prepares them for group performances while supporting their artistic, cognitive and social development. Sessions with parents and community members are also being planned to raise awareness and encourage family engagement.

Al-Qarbi said that long-term sustainability and lasting impacts could be ensured by closer partnerships between the education and healthcare sectors.

He praised the initiative as a regional model, opening the door to further research and innovation.

He said that teaching music to individuals with disabilities went beyond technical skills, nurturing essential personal qualities such as patience, discipline and social engagement, which in turn positively influenced many areas of their lives.


Saudi surgeons separate Egyptian child from parasitic twin

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi surgeons separate Egyptian child from parasitic twin

  • Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah says operation is one of the most delicate carried out by his team
  • Procedure takes 8 hours and involves multidisciplinary team of 26 consultants

RIYADH: A medical team from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program successfully completed a surgical procedure on Wednesday to separate an Egyptian child from a parasitic twin.

The operation on 8-month-old Mohammed Abdulrahman Juma at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh took eight hours and was split into six stages. It involved a multidisciplinary team of 26 consultants, including specialists in anesthesia, neurosurgery, pediatrics and plastic surgery.

A parasitic twin, also known as a vestigial twin, is an identical twin that stopped developing during gestation and is physically attached to a fully developed twin. Because it did not fully develop, it cannot survive on its own and often dies in the womb or during birth.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who heads the surgical team and is an advisor at the royal court and supervisor general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, said the twins were joined at the back, lower chest, abdomen and pelvis. The parasitic twin lacked a head and essential organs, including a heart and kidneys.

Al-Rabeeah described the operation as one of the most delicate his team has been involved with, and thanked his colleagues for their efficiency and skill during the surgery, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Mohammed and his parents flew to Saudi Arabia in March after King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued directives for medics in the Kingdom to help the child.

The operation on Wednesday was the 63rd separation procedure carried out under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has reviewed 149 cases of patients from 27 countries since its inception in 1990.