This article was originally published in Middle East Health.
Mental health, once a taboo subject in much of the world, is now being recognized as a public health priority across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). While governments in the region have made commendable strides in raising awareness and launching national strategies, the scale of the challenge requires significant action from individuals and organizations alike.
According to our recent report, “Transforming Mental Wellness In The GCC,” nearly 80% of mental health conditions remain undiagnosed — significantly higher than the 50% gap observed in many other high-income countries. This is despite the fact that one in eight people globally experiences a mental health condition, with anxiety and depression accounting for more than half of all cases. Left untreated, these conditions can potentially reduce quality of life, lower productivity, and increase the strain on healthcare systems and economies.
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, depression is now among the top five causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. The cost of inaction is clear. However, so too is the opportunity to act decisively and build a system that meets the needs of today as well as tomorrow.
Bringing mental health support closer through awareness
The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a shift in public perception around mental wellbeing. Globally, rates of anxiety and depression increased by 25% during the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. In the GCC, this increase has been compounded by rapid urbanization, evolving cultural norms, and high youth populations grappling with social and economic transitions.
In response, regional governments have integrated mental wellness into national development strategies. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 positions mental health as a core component of its healthcare reform. The UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 has prioritized mental wellness through multi-sectoral initiatives, including Dubai’s AED 105 million commitment to its Mental Wealth strategy. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health has launched its own framework and recorded a 30% increase in people receiving treatment for mental health conditions since 2022. Qatar, meanwhile, continues to expand access to community-based mental health care.
These efforts reflect an encouraging shift. However, awareness alone does not close the care gap. Our report reveals that 40% of individuals across the GCC remain unsure where to turn for help, while 35% view their symptoms as temporary or unworthy of professional attention. Among lower-income or migrant communities, fears about employment status or deportation often prevent people from coming forward.
Embedding mental health in everyday settings — schools, workplaces, places of worship — is vital. Early detection through school-based screening, confidential employee check-ins, and public education campaigns can help people recognize and act on symptoms sooner. Just as critical are strong legal protections that guarantee patient confidentiality and allow people to access support without fear of repercussions.
Youth engagement is also essential. The Arab Youth Survey shows that while nearly two-thirds of young Arabs are open to seeking mental health support, many cite stress and anxiety as key challenges. Tailoring services to their needs, attitudes, and communication channels will help build mental health literacy across generations.
Scaling care capacity for stronger mental health systems
The shortage of qualified mental health professionals is among the region’s most pressing issues. Specialized fields such as child psychiatry, addiction treatment, and perinatal mental health remain severely underserved. Many healthcare systems in the GCC still rely on hospital-centric models, limiting care to large cities and excluding underserved populations.
The numbers highlight the gap. On average, countries in the Organization For Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have around 15 psychiatrists per 100,000 people. Most GCC countries, by contrast, have fewer than three. Addressing this imbalance requires both long-term workforce development and near-term model redesign.
Government partnerships with academic institutions to scale training programs offer one solution. This applies not only to psychiatrists and psychologists but also to social workers, counselors, and mental health nurses. Meanwhile, general practitioners should be upskilled to diagnose and manage common mental health conditions. This shift to a primary care-led model will allow earlier intervention and reduce the burden on specialist services.
Beyond workforce development, infrastructure must also evolve. A future-ready system should prioritize outpatient clinics, day hospitals, and rehabilitation centers — particularly in underserved areas. Mobile mental health teams, school counselors, and community-based peer networks are cost-effective solutions that bring care closer to the population.
Insurance is another key lever. Many health plans in the region restrict mental health coverage to emergencies, excluding ongoing therapy or outpatient services. This leaves individuals — especially in low-income groups — without practical pathways to care.
Policy reform is urgently needed. Introducing mandatory comprehensive mental health coverage across all public and private insurance schemes would be a helpful step forward. Employers and insurers can play a key role co-financing mental wellness programs and incentivizing participation. The return on investment is compelling: according to the WHO every US$1 invested in mental health yields US$4 in improved health and productivity.
Future-ready mental health in the GCC driven by innovation
Transforming mental healthcare in the GCC also requires digital innovation and robust data infrastructure investment.
National reporting standards and interoperable data systems — such as those emerging in the UAE through platforms like Abu Dhabi’s Malaffi and NABIDH in Dubai — enable outcome tracking, centralized electronic health records, and continuous system improvement. Scaling these models’ region-wide can help standardize mental health data and elevate care quality across the GCC.
Digital solutions are another area of enormous potential. Telehealth platforms and virtual therapy are expanding access, particularly in remote communities. Mobile mental health apps, AI-powered screening tools, and chatbots are increasingly used to triage and support patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
AI can also support clinicians with decision-making, drawing on large medical datasets to suggest diagnoses and treatment options. These tools can reduce waiting times, relieve pressure on staff, and personalize care — provided they are integrated thoughtfully and used ethically.
Fortunately, regional policy is aligned with these ambitions. The UAE’s National Digital Health Strategy and Saudi Arabia’s Health Sector Transformation Program strongly emphasizes on virtual care, remote diagnostics, and AI-enabled services. This creates a valuable foundation for digital mental health to scale with the broader system.
But digital must complement, not replace, human care. People experiencing mental distress need compassion and connection. Technology should extend reach and increase efficiency, but always underpinned by clinical rigor, data privacy, and cultural sensitivity.
Finally, mental health must be recognized as a whole-of-society issue. It intersects with education, employment, housing, and urban design. Collaboration across ministries, the private sector, NGOs, and civil society will be critical.
The World Economic Forum has emphasized that transforming mental health systems requires “shared stewardship” between public and private actors. Mental wellbeing must be embedded in city planning, media narratives, school curricula, and workplace culture. This is not only a healthcare challenge — it is a national development priority.
It is also a unique opportunity, as the GCC is uniquely positioned to lead on mental health reform. Political will is strong, demographic pressures are creating urgency, and technological infrastructure is rapidly advancing. With coordinated action, the region has the potential to build a modern, inclusive, and proactive mental health system — one that can improve millions of lives and setting a global benchmark in care innovation.
At Oliver Wyman, we believe mental health is a defining health, economic, and social issue of our time. What the GCC achieves over the next five years could shape its future and inspire other regions to act with similar resolve.
Read the original piece here.