Ministry of Health Celebrates World Mental Health Day Under the Slogan 'Listening to Lived Experiences'

The Ministry of Health celebrated World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10, with this year’s theme, as designated by the World Health Organization, being “Hearing Voices: Initiatives Responding.” Dr. Khaloud Al-Ali, Director of the Kuwait Center for Mental Health, stated in a speech during the event held yesterday at The Avenues Mall that listening to the experiences of patients and their families constitutes a fundamental pillar for improving service quality, promoting recovery, and combating the stigma associated with mental illnesses.

Dr. Al-Ali emphasized that mental health care extends beyond treatment and medication; it begins with attentive listening, respecting patient dignity, understanding their needs, challenges, and aspirations, and involving both patients and their families in the journey of treatment and recovery. She added that the responsibility of healthcare institutions goes beyond providing treatment and medication to creating a safe therapeutic environment that preserves patient dignity, respects their rights, enhances their self-confidence and trust in society, and responds to their needs through the collaboration of professionals across medical, nursing, psychological, social, and administrative specialties to deliver comprehensive mental health care.

The celebration featured an awareness booth at The Avenues Mall, with participation from several physicians, as part of the observance of World Mental Health Day and efforts to raise community awareness about the importance of mental health care. This aligns with the event’s message calling for listening to the experiences of patients and their families, strengthening their role in the treatment and recovery journey, and fostering a supportive societal culture that helps reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses.