2. Agenda for Discussion
Discuss the current situation of mental health
services in Oman
Explore the challenges and opportunities
Discuss the improvement plan proposal
4. 37% of population under the age of 15 years
(MOH 2006)
28% of the population is rural (UN Development
Report 2006)
5. There are currently a total of 26 Outpatient
Mental health Facilities are available in the
Country (WHO-AIMS report 2008)
These facilities treated 9,901 386 user per
100,000 general population (WHO-AIMS report
2008)
MOH is the main healthcare provider in the
Sultanate (WHO-AIMS report 2008)
6. Only one Mental health hospital in Oman (Ibn
Sina Hospital) with capacity 90 beds
(bed occupancy rate 92%)
2.88 beds per 100,000 population
The number of beds has increased 38% in the
last five years.
World Health Organization 2010
7. Unit cost for inpatient at Ibn Sina Hospital
(≈134 RO) and for Outpatient (≈ 45 RO)
The density of psychiatric beds in or around
Muscat is 3.57 times greater than the density of
beds in the entire country, so it’s prevent the
access. (Increased traditional and religious healers)
World Health Organization 2010
8. Mental health is an Important
Consideration for the Public Health Agenda
in Oman
Findings of two studies
1. Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.
Global school-based student health survey, 2005
It’s indicated that 14% of school adolescent having at
least one category of mental disorder (≈ 129,000)
The same study indicated that 42.4% had ever been
treated for mental disorder (≈54,000)
9. 2. Ministry of Health. The healthy life style study,
assessment of life style risk factor among Sur
city population, 2006
It’s indicated that 16% people aged 60 years and
above are self-reported mild to severe depressive
symptoms
12. The ratio between contact and days spent in all
inpatient facilities is an indicator of extent of
community care: in Oman the ratio is 2:1
(WHO-AIMS report 2008)
16. Summary of Recommendations of WHO
Consultants from 1992-2008
1. Provide treatment in primary care
2. Make psychotropic medicines available
3. Provide care in the community
4. Educate the public
5. Involve communities, families and consumer
6. Establish National Policies, Legislation
7. Develop human resources
8. Link with other sectors
9. Monitor community mental health
10. Support more research
18. Looking Ahead - Challenges
Very uneven distribution of resources across
regions.
Low human resources for mental health care
Poor training in subspecialty in psychiatry
Public ignorance and stigma
Lack of growth of private sector
19. No outpatient facility provides follow up care in
the community
No mental health mobile team
No day treatment facility available in the country
No community residential facilities for patient
with mental disorders.
World Health Organization 2010
20. Opportunities
Build on community resources
Community tolerance
Family commitment
Limited barriers for professional work
Partnerships with wide variety of community
resources
Integration of services
Studies suggest that up to 40% of acutely mentally ill
persons presenting for admission to a hospital can be
managed in community care settings.
22. How Could Initiated Activities?
Primary healthcare center
General practitioner based in polyclinics
School mental health program
Home based follow ups of psychiatric patients
Community based rehabilitation of minor mentally
ill persons.
23. Expected Roles of Community
Mental Health Services Provider
MICRO LEVEL
MACRO LEVEL
27. Proposal Mental Health –Agenda in Community
Services
Human resource development
Support to families
Suicide prevention
Services for children and adolescents
Support to NGOs
Integration with other sectors
Research/Monitoring and evaluation
Administrative structures
28. We have at our disposal the
knowledge and power
to significantly reduce the
burden of mental disorders