emirates7 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates- Leading clinicians from Priory, a global leader in mental healthcare, will address mental health stigma and its economic impact at Arab Health 2025.
Exhibiting as part of the Harley Street Health District delegation, Priory’s expert clinicians will lead a fireside chat focusing on mental health stigma, its socio-economic implications, and the barriers individuals face in seeking treatment.
The session will take place in the state-of-the-art Surgical Simulation Theatre within the ABHI UK Pavilion.
Key speakers include Dr. Donald Masi, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Steve Clarke, Hospital Director and Psychotherapist, both from Priory Hospital Roehampton. They will discuss the urgent need for change in the region’s approach to mental health care.
Addressing Mental Health Stigma in the Middle East
Mental health stigma continues to deter individuals across the GCC region from seeking help, with 80% of those in Saudi Arabia with severe mental health conditions not accessing treatment. This session will explore:
•Common misconceptions about mental illness and their societal and economic impact.
•The economic cost of untreated mental health conditions, such as the $3.5 billion lost annually across the GCC due to productivity issues.
•Practical strategies, including technology and workplace initiatives, to support long-term recovery.
“Priory has helped thousands of individuals overcome mental health challenges with evidence-based treatments tailored to diverse cultural and personal needs,” said Dr. Donald Masi. “Our participation in Arab Health is an important step towards encouraging open conversations and increasing access to world-class mental healthcare in the Middle East.”
World-Class Expertise and Treatments
Priory is renowned for delivering discreet, patient-centred care through evidence-based treatments. Providing inpatient and outpatient care, key services include:
•Mental health services – including treatment for depression, anxiety, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•Addiction treatment programmes – including treatment for alcohol addiction, drug addiction, gambling addiction, love and sex addiction, internet addiction and shopping addiction
•Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS): A cutting-edge therapy for depression and OCD, available at Priory’s Harley Street Wellbeing Centre.
Mental Health Access Challenges in the GCC
Despite growing awareness, barriers such as limited professionals, high treatment costs, and minimal insurance coverage continue to restrict access to mental healthcare in the GCC. For example, the UAE’s psychiatrist-to-population ratio remains significantly lower than in other nations.
Priory seeks to bridge these gaps by offering discreet, high-quality mental health services tailored to meet the needs of Middle Eastern patients.
The fireside chat will be held at the ABHI UK Pavilion, Arab Health 2025, on Monday, 27th January, from 3-4pm (local time). It is an essential event for clinicians, policymakers, and employers seeking to improve mental healthcare access and reduce stigma across the region.
Exhibiting as part of the Harley Street Health District delegation, Priory’s expert clinicians will lead a fireside chat focusing on mental health stigma, its socio-economic implications, and the barriers individuals face in seeking treatment.
The session will take place in the state-of-the-art Surgical Simulation Theatre within the ABHI UK Pavilion.
Key speakers include Dr. Donald Masi, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Steve Clarke, Hospital Director and Psychotherapist, both from Priory Hospital Roehampton. They will discuss the urgent need for change in the region’s approach to mental health care.
Addressing Mental Health Stigma in the Middle East
Mental health stigma continues to deter individuals across the GCC region from seeking help, with 80% of those in Saudi Arabia with severe mental health conditions not accessing treatment. This session will explore:
•Common misconceptions about mental illness and their societal and economic impact.
•The economic cost of untreated mental health conditions, such as the $3.5 billion lost annually across the GCC due to productivity issues.
•Practical strategies, including technology and workplace initiatives, to support long-term recovery.
“Priory has helped thousands of individuals overcome mental health challenges with evidence-based treatments tailored to diverse cultural and personal needs,” said Dr. Donald Masi. “Our participation in Arab Health is an important step towards encouraging open conversations and increasing access to world-class mental healthcare in the Middle East.”
World-Class Expertise and Treatments
Priory is renowned for delivering discreet, patient-centred care through evidence-based treatments. Providing inpatient and outpatient care, key services include:
•Mental health services – including treatment for depression, anxiety, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•Addiction treatment programmes – including treatment for alcohol addiction, drug addiction, gambling addiction, love and sex addiction, internet addiction and shopping addiction
•Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS): A cutting-edge therapy for depression and OCD, available at Priory’s Harley Street Wellbeing Centre.
Mental Health Access Challenges in the GCC
Despite growing awareness, barriers such as limited professionals, high treatment costs, and minimal insurance coverage continue to restrict access to mental healthcare in the GCC. For example, the UAE’s psychiatrist-to-population ratio remains significantly lower than in other nations.
Priory seeks to bridge these gaps by offering discreet, high-quality mental health services tailored to meet the needs of Middle Eastern patients.
The fireside chat will be held at the ABHI UK Pavilion, Arab Health 2025, on Monday, 27th January, from 3-4pm (local time). It is an essential event for clinicians, policymakers, and employers seeking to improve mental healthcare access and reduce stigma across the region.