According to latest estimates, over a third of people in the Middle East are living with a mental illness. Of these, nearly 90 percent do not seek treatment.
Moreover, The economic impact of this gap in the Middle East is profound, culminating in a loss of nearly 38 million workdays for a grand sum of $3.5 billion a year.
While various factors are at play, researchers underline three main barriers as key contributors to this gap, namely:
- Stigma and mental health illiteracy
- Inaccessibility of resources
- Long wait times
Due to deeply held spiritual and familial values in the region, studies consistently confirm a high prevalence of stigmatic beliefs surrounding mental health and its treatment, including the fear of being labeled as ‘crazy’ or ‘spiritually weak,’ bringing shame to their families, or being alienated by their peers, friends, or families.
A lack of straightforward access to mental health services only intensifies this reluctance to seek help, as available data indicates there are currently fewer than 2 psychologists per 100,000 people in the region. Geographical distance from care also serves as a major barrier to service accessibility, as those living in rural or isolated communities have limited to no access to local support.
As a result, whatever resources do exist are quickly exhausted, leading to extended wait times often spanning multiple weeks if not months. This, in turn, only further discourages already hesitant individuals from seeking care, as they fear they will not receive the support they need in time—or at all.
Closing the Gap: How Technology Facilitates Greater Mental Health Support
With that said, mounting evidence continues to underscore the benefits of leveraging technological interventions—that is, digital, telephonic, and virtual solutions—to deliver both essential and preventative mental health care to people in this region. One recent McKinsey analysis, for example, found that widespread adoption of digital healthcare solutions could unlock economic gains of up to $27 billion for the area, driven by:
- Early diagnoses and treatment
- Increased service utilization
- Enhanced health management
- Improved productivity and attendance rates
When people have access to support at the press of a button, they are more likely to use it. This is especially true for populations plagued by stigma, who have limited access to in-person services as it is or lack the time and resources to seek such care.
In contrast to the limited availability of in-person care, virtually everyone has access to a mobile device (90 percent, according to one study, of which 97 percent are covered by a mobile network). This makes it easier for individuals to access help the moment they need it, empowering them to do so right at that moment, rather than postponing or disregarding the option entirely. Furthermore, for those concerned about the social ramifications of seeking care, being able to do so from a private, secure location can help to alleviate such fears—especially when this includes the option of anonymity.
With access to both global and localized networks of experienced counselors, clinicians, coaches, and consultants, individuals no longer need to worry about the drawbacks of limited personnel, including long wait times or inadequate support. Instead, they can tap into global expertise, gaining insightful guidance that would otherwise be lost under a siloed approach to mental health. And with around-the-clock access to a comprehensive hub of mental health resources, individuals may aspire to become experts in their own right—taking charge of their own wellbeing and mastering their own health management.
Getting Started: How Workplace Options Can Help
To take advantage of all that technological interventions have to offer, organizations need look no further than a holistic wellbeing solutions provider like Workplace Options (WPO) for support. Boasting an extensive catalogue of emotional, physical, and practical support solutions available across a variety of formats—including by phone, video, chat, app, as well as in-person—WPO ensures that all members have access to the personalized support they need to achieve meaningful, lasting improvements to their mental health and overall wellbeing.
Through services like single-session* or short-term, solution-focused counseling delivered in-person, by phone, or online video (*single-session delivered by phone only), WPO provides timely support to individuals when they need it most, guaranteeing that they feel seen, heard, and cared for—all protective factors in their own right. Additionally, through digital solutions granting individuals easy, often one-click or one-touch access to live support as well as a range of wellbeing services and resources, WPO empowers individuals to be more involved in and proactive about their health maintenance—challenging the notion that mental healthcare is solely reactionary and dismantling the stigma that seeking care is a sign of neediness or weakness.
When mental health support is sought out as a preventative measure, individuals are better protected against the threat of mental illness. Moreover, when proactive, preventative mental healthcare becomes the established norm, stigmatic beliefs about the social or economic consequences of needing or seeking help fall to the wayside. The combination of guaranteed effectiveness and the removal of stigma, in turn, increases the likelihood that individuals will actually seek support, effectively helping to close the treatment gap and minimize the economic impact of mental illness on the region.
“Digital interventions are a powerful tool in bridging the treatment gap,” asserts Yara Maria Kamel, Clinical Success Coach at Workplace Options. “They offer accessible, stigma-free support that empowers individuals to take charge of their mental health. By integrating these technologies into their wellbeing strategy, organizations can enhance engagement, reach underserved populations, and ultimately improve mental health outcomes for everyone.”
