Mental health 2024: 700,000 referrals, mood disorders top the list
The Saudi Ministry of Health revealed a significant leap in performance indicators for mental health services, with official statistics showing that hospitals and specialized clinics received approximately 698,772 patients in mental health departments during 2024. These figures reflect the substantial transformation in the Kingdom's healthcare system and the growing public awareness of the importance of mental health treatment.
General context: Transformations in mental health care in light of Vision 2030
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the radical transformations taking place in the Saudi Arabian healthcare sector as part of the goals of Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program. Previously, social stigma posed a significant barrier to seeking mental health assistance, but intensive awareness campaigns and easier access to services through primary care centers and digital applications have helped to break down this barrier. The increase in the number of patients seeking help is a positive indicator of the success of the Ministry's strategies in promoting mental health and making it an integral part of overall health.
Indicator details: Mood disorders are at the forefront
Detailed data revealed that mood disorders topped the list of the most common medical diagnoses, with 190,608 patients seeking medical attention. This figure reflects the global prevalence of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, and the critical need to provide ongoing psychological support to this group to ensure their functional and social well-being.
In a clear indication of commitment to treatment plans, “returning” patients (periodic follow-up) constituted the largest percentage with 561,340 patients, compared to 137,432 new patients, indicating the beneficiaries’ confidence in the services provided and the effectiveness of long-term follow-up programs.
Critical cases and challenges of sedation
Regarding cases requiring intensive medical intervention in hospitals, the Ministry recorded 23,698 hospitalizations, according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Herein lies a significant medical paradox: although "schizophrenia disorders" ranked second in terms of outpatient visits (171,731 visits), they ranked first in hospitalizations, with 7,984 cases. This is attributed to the chronic and complex nature of schizophrenia, which may require periods of intensive clinical care to control acute symptoms.
Other patterns and future challenges
Third in terms of clinic visits were neurotic and stress-related disorders (tension and psychological pressure) with a total of 123,882 cases, but the percentage of hospitalizations was low (1,859 cases), which confirms that most of these cases can be effectively treated through outpatient clinics and behavioral therapy sessions.
Statistics also revealed qualitative challenges in the form of disorders resulting from the use of psychoactive substances, which had a notable presence in inpatient wards, ranking third (4,387 cases), highlighting the importance of integration between mental health services and addiction treatment programs.
In conclusion, these statistics confirm that the Kingdom is moving steadily towards building an integrated mental health system that focuses on prevention, early intervention, and continuity of treatment, ensuring a healthy and productive life for all members of society.
