Government and business leaders across the Gulf Cooperation Council must coordinate efforts to address a significant mental health treatment gap, where nearly 80 per cent of conditions remain undiagnosed. Strategic partnerships focusing on workforce development, digital innovation, and comprehensive insurance coverage could transform regional mental healthcare capacity and accessibility. Sumit Sharma, Partner and Head of Health and Life Sciences, India, Middle East and Africa, Oliver Wyman, looks at this issue.
Mental health used to be a taboo subject in many parts of the world. Now government leaders across our region are recognizing it as a public health priority.
But while they have made commendable strides in raising awareness and launching national strategies, government leaders can only do so much. The scale of the challenge also demands more action from business leaders – and better coordination between the two.
In my work leading Oliver Wyman’s Health and Life Sciences practice in IMEA, I have seen how organizations that pay insufficient attention to mental wellbeing have paid a price. According to our recent report, Transforming Mental Wellness in the GCC, nearly 80 percent of mental health conditions remain undiagnosed – significantly greater than the 50 percent observed in many other high-income countries. Left untreated, these conditions can reduce quality of life, diminish productivity and compound the strain on healthcare systems and economies.
One case in point: A study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation utilizing Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data from 1990 to 2019 found that depression is among the top five causes of disability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The good news is that government and business leaders have an opportunity to work together to scale-up mental healthcare capacity, expand insurance coverage, embrace digital innovation and broaden the definition of mental wellness in order to build a system that meets the challenges of today as well as tomorrow.
From awareness to access
The COVID-19 pandemic shifted public perception around mental wellbeing. Globally, rates of anxiety and depression increased by 25 percent during the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. In the GCC, this increase has been compounded by rapid urbanisation, evolving cultural norms, and high youth populations grappling with social and economic transitions.
In response, governments across the region have integrated mental wellness into national development strategies. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 positions mental health as a core component of its healthcare reform. The UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 has prioritised mental wellness through multisectoral initiatives, including Dubai’s AED105 million commitment to its Mental Wealth strategy. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health has launched its own framework and recorded a 30 percent increase in people receiving treatment for mental health conditions since 2022. Qatar, meanwhile, continues to expand access to community-based mental health care.
But awareness alone does not close the care gap. Our report reveals that 40 percent of individuals across the GCC remain unsure where to turn for help, while 35 percent view their symptoms as temporary or unworthy of professional attention. Among lower-income or migrant communities, fears about employment status or deportation often prevent people from coming forward.
Embedding mental health in everyday settings — schools, workplaces, places of worship — is vital. Early detection through school-based screening, confidential employee check-ins and public education campaigns can help people recognise and act on symptoms sooner. Just as critical are strong legal protections that guarantee patient confidentiality and allow people to access support without fear of repercussions.
Youth engagement is also essential. The Arab Youth Survey shows that while nearly two-thirds of young Arabs are open to seeking mental health support, many cite stress and anxiety as key challenges. Tailoring services to their needs, attitudes and channels of communication will help build mental health literacy across generations.
Scaling-up capacity
The shortage of qualified mental health professionals is among the most pressing issues facing the region. Specialised fields such as child psychiatry, addiction treatment and perinatal mental health remain severely underserved. Many healthcare systems in the GCC still rely on hospital-centric models, limiting care to large cities and excluding underserved populations.
On average, OECD countries have about 17.5 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, according to the Health at a Glance, Asia/Pacific 2024 report. In contrast, most GCC countries have fewer than three psychiatrists per 100,000 people, as noted in the report Mental Health in the Middle East by Janssen. Addressing this imbalance requires both long-term workforce development and near-term model redesign.
Government partnerships with academic institutions to scale training programmes is one solution. This applies not only to psychiatrists and psychologists, but also social workers, counsellors and mental health nurses. Meanwhile, general practitioners should be upskilled to diagnose and manage common mental health conditions. This shift to a primary care-led model will allow earlier intervention and reduce the burden on specialist services.
Beyond people, infrastructure must evolve. A future-ready system should prioritise outpatient clinics, day hospitals and rehabilitation centres – particularly in underserved areas. Mobile mental health teams, school counsellors and community-based peer networks are cost-effective solutions that bring care closer to the population.
Expanding insurance coverage
Insurance is another key lever. Many health plans in the region restrict mental health coverage to emergencies, excluding ongoing therapy or outpatient services. This leaves individuals, especially those in low-income groups, without practical pathways to care.
Policy reform is urgently needed. Mandatory comprehensive mental health coverage in all public and private insurance schemes would be a big, helpful step. Employers and insurers can co-finance mental wellness programmes and incentivise participation. The return on investment is compelling: the WHO estimates that every US$1 invested in mental health yields US$4 in improved health and productivity.
Embracing digital innovation
Transforming mental healthcare in the GCC also requires investment in digital innovation and robust data infrastructure.
National reporting standards and interoperable data systems – such as those emerging in the UAE through platforms like Abu Dhabi’s Malaffi and NABIDH in Dubai – are critical for enabling outcome tracking, centralised electronic health records and continuous system improvement. Scaling these models region-wide can help standardize mental health data and elevate care quality across the GCC.
Digital solutions are another area of enormous potential. Telehealth platforms and virtual therapy are already expanding access, particularly in remote communities. Mobile mental health apps, AI-powered screening tools and chatbots are increasingly being used to triage and support patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
AI can also support clinicians with decision-making, drawing on large medical datasets to suggest diagnoses and treatment options. These tools can reduce wait times, relieve pressure on staff and personalise care – provided they are integrated thoughtfully and used ethically.
Fortunately, regional policy is aligned with these ambitions. The UAE’s National Digital Health Strategy and Saudi Arabia’s Health Sector Transformation Programme both place strong emphasis on virtual care, remote diagnostics and AI-enabled services. This creates a valuable foundation for digital mental health to scale in step with the broader system.
But digital tools must complement, not replace, human care. People experiencing mental distress need compassion and connection. Technology should extend reach and increase efficiency, but always underpinned by clinical rigour, data privacy and cultural sensitivity.
Broadening the definition of mental health
Finally, mental health must be recognised as a whole-of-society issue. It intersects with education, employment, housing and urban design. Collaboration across ministries – as well as the private sector, NGOs and civil society – will be critical.
The World Economic Forum has emphasised that transforming mental health systems requires “shared stewardship” between public and private actors. Mental wellbeing must be embedded in city planning, media narratives, school curricula and workplace culture. This is not only a healthcare challenge – it is a national development priority.
It is also a unique opportunity, as the GCC is uniquely positioned to lead on mental health reform. Political will is strong, demographic pressures are creating urgency, and technological infrastructure is rapidly advancing. With coordinated action, the region has the potential to build a modern, inclusive and proactive mental health system – one that is capable of improving millions of lives and setting a global benchmark in care innovation.
At Oliver Wyman, we believe mental health is a defining health, economic and social issue of our time. What the GCC achieves over the next five years could shape not just its own future, but inspire other regions to act with similar resolve.
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About the author
Sumit Sharma is a Partner and Head of Health and Life Sciences for India, the Middle East and Africa at Oliver Wyman. He advises governments, investors and healthcare providers on system transformation, strategy and innovation.
About Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman is a global management consulting firm that combines deep industry knowledge with specialised expertise in strategy, operations, risk management and organisational transformation. For more information, visit www.oliverwyman.com.
