First GCC Mental Health Conference kicks off in Muscat

Oman Thursday 09/October/2025 15:31 PM
By: ONA
First GCC Mental Health Conference kicks off in Muscat

Muscat: The First GCC Mental Health Conference kicked off today under the theme “Access to Services: Mental Health During Disasters and Emergencies”.

The three-day conference is organized by the Ministry of Health, represented by Al Masarra Hospital.

The event coincides with World Mental Health Day.

The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Sulaiman Nasser Al Haji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs, and attended by government officials, specialists and researchers in the field of mental health from the Sultanate of Oman and other GCC states.

The conference seeks to raise public awareness about mental health and enable researchers, decision-makers and health professionals to exchange expertise and knowledge. It also aims to showcase the latest research and innovative strategies that contribute to improving access to efficient mental health services.

The first day's activities included sessions about addiction, artificial intelligence (AI) and the role of traditional media and social media in highlighting mental health.

During today’s sessions, a number of Omani researchers presented specialized research papers titled "Early screening for autism spectrum disorder", "Stigma about seeking psychological assistance” and "Types of psychological stress among family caregivers”.

The sessions also included scientific debate about the role of smart technologies in supporting mental health services and the Ministry of Health's approach to integrate AI into its services in line with Oman Vision 2040.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the chief guest toured an exhibition featuring field studies and research on various topics.

--- Ends/Bishara/AG