KUWAIT CITY, Oct 10: Kuwait is participating in the global celebration of World Mental Health Day on Thursday, aiming to raise awareness about mental health issues and the psychological challenges that affect individuals' quality of life. The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced this year's theme as "Mental Health in the Workplace," highlighting the essential connection between mental health and work. This theme underscores the importance of safe and healthy work environments as protective factors for mental well-being.

The WHO warns that unhealthy workplace conditions can negatively impact mental health and overall quality of life, subsequently affecting participation and productivity at work. The organization is calling for immediate actions to create work environments that prevent mental health disorders and offer support for mental health in the workplace.

Kuwait has shown a long-standing commitment to enhancing mental health care for all segments of society. The country focuses on providing optimal diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up services, employing the latest treatment protocols, psychological assessments, and therapeutic counseling.

In a significant expansion of mental health services this year, Kuwait has established 68 specialized mental health clinics within primary health care centers across all governorates. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive treatment for both organic and mental health conditions while maintaining strict privacy standards.

On December 12, 2007, Kuwait inaugurated a new Psychiatric Hospital, significantly expanding its facilities and services. In 2012, the hospital was renamed the Kuwait Center for Mental Health as part of the Ministry of Health's development plan to enhance health services nationwide. The center offers a diverse range of specialized medical services, including units for elderly patients, children, and adolescents, as well as forensic medicine services, brain mapping, and a sleep laboratory, in addition to specialized services for various public hospitals.

The center also prioritizes enhancing clinical psychological services and establishing daycare programs designed to equip patients with coping skills and recreational activities as part of an integrated treatment plan. Additionally, the Ministry of Health has established the Al-Manara Center for Mental Health for Children and Adolescents, the first Gulf center dedicated to providing comprehensive psychological services for younger populations. This center comprises a team of doctors and psychotherapists addressing cases of anxiety disorders and behavioral issues, including hyperactivity, attention deficit, and disorders associated with intellectual disabilities and autism.

Kuwait is proud of its Mental Health Law, enacted on March 3, 2019, which recognizes the distinct nature of mental illnesses and the global attention they garner. The law aims to enhance specialized health care and regulate mental health conditions, underscoring the growing importance of mental illness regulation in protecting patients and ensuring their rights to quality health care. It comprises 40 articles focusing on ensuring respect for the dignity of mental patients, their autonomy, and their right to receive treatment in accordance with established standards. This legislation reflects significant advancements in psychiatry and the evolving understanding of psychological treatment, emphasizing patient recovery and reintegration into society rather than isolation in mental facilities.

The law acknowledges that mental illnesses differ from other health conditions, affecting essential functions such as awareness, perception, judgment, emotional state, and decision-making abilities.