KUWAIT CITY, Oct 23, (Agencies): Dr. Dina Al-Dabaib, Director of the Central Administration for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, has revealed that 7,029 patients have been received during the past nine months in health clinics.

Expanding Mental Health Services in Primary Care Centers

According to Al-Dabaib, there has been a significant expansion in "mental health" clinics across various primary care centers, totaling 54 clinics distributed throughout Kuwait's health regions. This expansion aligns with the Ministry of Health's plan to extend specialized clinic services within primary care centers.

Al-Dabaib stated in an interview with a local daily that these 54 clinics cover various regions and governorates across Kuwait, allowing patients to access them conveniently, as appointments are scheduled based on the patient's residential address according to their civil ID. This expansion has raised community awareness of the importance of mental health and the available treatments, leading to an increase in clinic visits. This shift has also encouraged more people to request appointments, thus reducing the burden on specialized hospitals while ensuring that patients can easily access the services.

She further pointed out that these clinics are staffed with family physicians who have received intensive training in the field of mental health. Moreover, the treatment plan for mental health clinics in primary care centers is expected to be further developed by appointing additional mental health therapists to provide clinical psychological healthcare and psychotherapy sessions.

Online Appointment System

Al-Dabaib also mentioned that an online appointment system was launched in February last year through the Ministry of Health's website. This system makes it easy for patients to book appointments directly and confidentially. As a result of this, the clinics have received 7,029 patients in the past nine months, all of whom sought mental health services within primary care centers.

Expanding Mental Health Services

The integration of mental health clinics into primary care services began in 2011, initially with only three clinics. Over the years, this approach has proven beneficial for patients and their families, increasing awareness and acceptance of mental health disorders. In 2020, the Central Administration for Primary Healthcare introduced the Mental Health Program to further expand the number of mental health clinics and enhance the quality of services to meet global standards. Now, the number of clinics has reached 54, with plans to open more mental health clinics in residential areas within the primary care centers.

Dr. Mariam Al-Qattan, the Head of the Mental Health Program at the Central Administration for Primary Healthcare, highlighted the significance of mental health for both individuals and communities. The Ministry of Health has been making substantial efforts to expand psychological services and bridge the gap between patients and treatment centers.

Dr. Al-Qattan explained that the services provided by these primary mental health clinics include comprehensive diagnosis and evaluation of patients. These services also cover medical tests to determine the causes of disorders, whether physical or psychological. Treatment options are holistic and follow international evidence-based guidelines, including psychotherapeutic interventions. Key mental health conditions addressed in these clinics include depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, various phobias, burnout, sleep disorders, and cases of self-harm.

The mental health clinics have proven to be an essential resource for people in Kuwait who require mental health support, offering them easy access to quality services within their local communities.