Most mental health services are offered by private clinics, with few companies' insurance plans covering this comprehensively. EPA
Most mental health services are offered by private clinics, with few companies' insurance plans covering this comprehensively. EPA
Most mental health services are offered by private clinics, with few companies' insurance plans covering this comprehensively. EPA
Most mental health services are offered by private clinics, with few companies' insurance plans covering this comprehensively. EPA

Untreated mental illness costs Gulf nations $3.5 billion in lost productivity each year


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

Gulf nations should spend more on treating mental illness amid concerns there are too few psychiatrists and a stigma around the issue, a report has said.

PwC Middle East said in a briefing paper that about 15 per cent of people in the region experienced mental health problems in any year, but only a minority of those in need sought care.

Untreated mental illness costs the region billions of dollars a year in lost productivity, according to estimates from the company.

PwC highlighted that there were “only” 2.85 psychiatrists for every 100,000 people in the GCC, which compares to eight for every 100,000 in England and 10 for every 100,000 in Scotland, according to figures published by the UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Poor mental health can have drastic negative economic consequences, both in terms of lost wages due to diminished productivity and increased medical costs
Lina Shadid,
PwC Middle East executive

One out of four people will suffer from some form of mental illness during their lifetime. Yet, more than 75 per cent of those who need mental health care do not seek it,” said Lina Shadid, health industries leader for PwC Middle East.

The organisation said that the Covid-19 pandemic was could have “exacerbated the burden of mental illness” in the GCC and worldwide.

It cited figures from the World Health Organisation indicating that even before the onset of the coronavirus, anxiety affected 284 million people worldwide while depression affected 264 million.

PwC said investing in mental care treatment made financial sense, because for every $1 put into “scaled up treatment for depression and anxiety” there was a $4 return in better health and productivity.

Investments in interventions improve workplace productivity and educational outcomes while reducing the costs of crime, cutting mortality and improving quality of life, the organisation said.

“In addition to the devastating impact on sufferers and those around them, poor mental health can have drastic negative economic consequences, both in terms of lost wages due to diminished productivity and increased medical costs,” Ms Shadid said.

The case for investing in mental health had “never been clearer”, she said, with the report estimating that at least 37.5 million productive days were lost each year in the GCC due to untreated mental illness.

“This is equivalent to $3.5 billion,” she said. “It is abundantly clear that if not properly addressed, mental disorders will continue to have an increasing toll across the GCC.”

According to the Global Burden Disease Study, which involves thousands of researchers around the globe, 80 per cent of people in Saudi Arabia with “severe mental disorders” do not seek professional help.

Although 34 per cent of Saudi people meet, at some point in their life, the criteria for having a mental health condition, only 4 per cent of the country’s health budget is allocated to mental health.

PwC proposed a six-pronged strategy to deal with the issue, made up of mental health system governance, information, awareness and destigmatisation, workforce, service delivery and care financing.

The framework has been adapted from the WHO’s Building Blocks of Health Systems, the organisation said.

“Governments are the ultimate guardian of the public’s health, and so they are in a position to take prime responsibility in making sure mental health is promoted and care is accessible to all those who need it,” said Dr Farah Yehia, PwC's manager for Middle East health industries.

“Doing so sets the example for businesses and local communities to follow.”

PwC stated that stigma was “a major barrier” to accessing mental health care in the GCC, often because of misconceptions, a lack of understanding of diagnoses, social and cultural beliefs and “stereotypical” media portrayals.

The company cited a survey in the UAE that found that about 30 per cent of people were reluctant to seek help because they feared their employer would judge them and their career would be harmed.

High costs — a psychotherapy session may cost Dh1,000 — and limited insurance cover for mental health conditions also act as a barrier to people seeking care, according to the organisation.

Abu Dhabi school wins awards for mental health programmes: in pictures

  • Aspen Heights British School Abu Dhabi has won an award for its mental health programme. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Aspen Heights British School Abu Dhabi has won an award for its mental health programme. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Pupils plant seedlings in the sensory garden.
    Pupils plant seedlings in the sensory garden.
  • Aspen Heights pupils practise their writing skills in the sensory garden.
    Aspen Heights pupils practise their writing skills in the sensory garden.
  • A school kitten that the children help look after.
    A school kitten that the children help look after.
  • The school counsellor's office.
    The school counsellor's office.
  • Anxious moments as pupils play a game of Jenga in the Aspen Heights wellbeing hub.
    Anxious moments as pupils play a game of Jenga in the Aspen Heights wellbeing hub.
  • A pupil reads an advice poster in the wellbeing hub.
    A pupil reads an advice poster in the wellbeing hub.
  • Pupils from Oasis class get creative.
    Pupils from Oasis class get creative.
  • Salama and Saeed, both 5, catch up on some reading in the Calm Corner.
    Salama and Saeed, both 5, catch up on some reading in the Calm Corner.
  • Pupils with the school's chickens.
    Pupils with the school's chickens.
  • Zakariyah, 9, helps tend to plants in the hydroponic garden.
    Zakariyah, 9, helps tend to plants in the hydroponic garden.
From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

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THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

La Mer lowdown

La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
 

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin

Favourite film: Marvel movies

Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence

Switching%20sides
%3Cp%3EMahika%20Gaur%20is%20the%20latest%20Dubai-raised%20athlete%20to%20attain%20top%20honours%20with%20another%20country.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVelimir%20Stjepanovic%20(Serbia%2C%20swimming)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBorn%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20and%20raised%20in%20Dubai%2C%20he%20finished%20sixth%20in%20the%20final%20of%20the%202012%20Olympic%20Games%20in%20London%20in%20the%20200m%20butterfly%20final.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EJonny%20Macdonald%20(Scotland%2C%20rugby%20union)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBrought%20up%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20and%20represented%20the%20region%20in%20international%20rugby.%20When%20the%20Arabian%20Gulf%20team%20was%20broken%20up%20into%20its%20constituent%20nations%2C%20he%20opted%20to%20play%20for%20Scotland%20instead%2C%20and%20went%20to%20the%20Hong%20Kong%20Sevens.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESophie%20Shams%20(England%2C%20rugby%20union)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20daughter%20of%20an%20English%20mother%20and%20Emirati%20father%2C%20Shams%20excelled%20at%20rugby%20in%20Dubai%2C%20then%20after%20attending%20university%20in%20the%20UK%20played%20for%20England%20at%20sevens.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Company profile

Name: Fruitful Day

Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2015

Number of employees: 30

Sector: F&B

Funding so far: Dh3 million

Future funding plans: None at present

Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries

Updated: June 28, 2022, 8:03 AM