The UAE must recruit 1,759 psychiatrists and add 3,381 psychiatric beds to address the increasing demand for mental health services, according to a new study released on Monday. As the country’s population is projected to reach nearly 11 million by 2030, the need for mental health support is becoming more critical.
Knight Frank’s Mental Health Report for the Middle East and Africa highlights that the UAE’s young demographic, societal changes, and advancements contribute to a higher risk of mental health issues, particularly among those aged 20-39. Additionally, an increasing number of residents over 60 will require mental healthcare.
Currently, the UAE has only 0.3 psychiatrists per 100,000 people and 14,000 psychiatric beds for the same population size. The country has just one dedicated mental health facility for the entire population. In contrast, Saudi Arabia, which was also covered in the study, has limited psychiatric clinics and inpatient facilities primarily serving Saudi nationals.
Shehzad Jamal, partner of strategy and consultancy for MEA at Knight Frank, emphasized the need for accessible and affordable mental health services. “Looking ahead, we need to make mental health services more accessible and affordable, streamline regulatory processes to ensure we have enough talent and resources, and invest in strong infrastructure. This includes investing in digital technology for mental health, which has become more popular since Covid-19. It’s also crucial to fight the stigma around mental health so people can seek the help they need without fear or hesitation,” he said.
The report also points out significant disparities in mental health infrastructure between the UAE and countries like the UK. Dr. Gireesh Kumar, associate partner for strategy and consultancy for healthcare for MEA at Knight Frank, noted that the UAE and Saudi Arabia have a psychiatry bed density of 14.0 and 18.4 beds per 100,000 population, respectively, compared to the UK’s 36.9 beds per 100,000 population. “This highlights the disparity in the availability of mental health services and facilities in the region,” Kumar said.
To tackle the growing mental health burden, additional investment in both preventive and curative care is essential. Knight Frank stresses the importance of addressing the lack of inpatient facilities to meet the needs that arise from outpatient services.