• KSA plans during the pandemic in managing the healthcare system were robust and sustainable. • Previous epidemics and mass gathering have helped to use the resources effectively. • Digital health and the prompt response to pandemic warnings were factors of success • Healthcare supplies and difficulties of online education were among the challenges. • It is recommended to revise the disaster and emergency strategic plans in KSA.

Objectives: To estimate treatment rates of 12‐month mental disorders in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS).Methods: The SNMHS is a face‐to‐face community epidemiological survey in a nationally representative household sample of citizens ages 15–65 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (n = 4,004). The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to produce estimates of 12‐month prevalence and treatment of common DSM‐IV mental disorders.Results: About one eighth (13.7%) of respondents with a 12‐month DSM‐IV/CIDI disorder received 12‐month treatment. The highest proportion of treatment occurred in the general medical sector (53.0%). Close to half (45.2%) of patients received treatment rated at least minimally adequate using standard treatment guidelines. Although serious disorders were significantly more likely to be treated (20.2%) than mild or moderate disorders (8.5–10.7%), no association was found between disorder severity and probability of receiving adequate treatment. Sociodemographic correlates were for the most part nonsignificant.Conclusions: A high level of unmet need for treatment of mental disorders exists in KSA. Further analyses of the SNMHS data might provide insights into modifiable barriers to treatment and policy options to address the problem of unmet need for treatment.

Introduction: Few studies have considered the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We estimated the prevalence and severity of psychological distress and characterized predisposing risk factors among HCWs in KSA during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 1,985 HCWs from 6 hospitals across the country designated with caring for COVID-19 patients between April 16 and June 21, 2020. Our data analysis was performed using logistic regressions. Ordered logistic regressions were also performed using forward stepwise model selection to explore the effects of risk factors on psychological distress.Results: The prevalence of psychological distress reported by HCWs in KSA was high, ranging from mild-moderate to severe in severity. Younger HCWs, women, those in contact with COVID-19 patients, and those who either had loved ones affected or who were themselves affected by COVID-19 were the most at-risk of psychological distress. Risk factors such as insomnia, loneliness, fear of transmission, and separation from loved ones most significantly predicted elevated levels of distress among HCWs.Conclusions: Increasing psychological distress was commonly reported by HCWs during the early months of COVID-19 pandemic in KSA. Public health policy makers and mental health professionals must give special attention to risk factors that predispose HCWs in KSA to psychological distress.

Objectives: To estimate lifetime treatment rates of mental disorders in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS).Methods: The SNMHS is a face‐to‐face community epidemiological survey in a nationally representative household sample of citizens ages 15–65 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (n = 4,004). The World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to produce estimates of lifetime prevalence and treatment of common DSM‐IV mental disorders.Results: Lifetime treatment ranged from 52.2% for generalized anxiety disorder to 20.3% for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, had a median (interquartile range) of 35.5% (30.6–39.5%) across disorders, and was 28.3% for people with any lifetime DSM‐IV/CIDI disorder. Half (49.0%) of patients received treatment in the mental health specialty sector, 35.9% in the general medical sector, 35.2% in the human services sector, and 15.7% in the complementary‐alternative medical sector. Median (interquartile range) delays in help‐seeking after disorder onset among respondents who already sought treatment were 8 (3–15) years. Odds of seeking treatment are positively related to age‐of‐onset and comorbidity.Conclusions: Unmet need for treatment of lifetime mental disorders is a major problem in KSA. Interventions to ensure prompt help‐seeking are needed to reduce the burdens and hazards of untreated mental disorders.

Background: Institutional review boards (IRBs) are formally designated to review, approve, and monitor biomedical research. They are responsible for ensuring that researchers comply with the ethical guidelines concerning human research participants. Given that IRBs might face different obstacles that cause delays in their processes or conflicts with investigators, this study aims to report the functions, roles, resources, and review process of IRBs in Saudi Arabia. Method: This was a cross-sectional self-reported survey conducted from March 2021 to March 2022. The survey was sent to 53 IRB chairpersons and the administration directors (or secretary) across the country through email after receiving verbal consent. The validated survey consisted of eight aspects: (a) organizational aspects, (b) membership and educational training, (c) submission arrangements and materials, (d) minutes, (e) review procedures, (f) communicating a decision, (g) continuing review, and (h) research ethics committee (REC) resources. A total of 200 points indicated optimal IRB functions. Results: Twenty-six IRBs across Saudi Arabia responded to the survey. Overall, the IRBs in this study scored a total of 150/200 of the points on the self-assessment tool. Relatively newer IRBs (established less than ten years ago) conducted meetings at least once in a month, had annual funding, had more balanced gender representation, tended to score higher than older IRBs. The organizational aspect score was the lowest among all items in the survey (14.3 score difference, p-value < 0.01). The average turnaround time for expedited research from proposal submission to final decision was 7 days, while it was 20.5 days for the full committee review. Conclusion: Saudi IRBs performed generally well. However, there is room for focused improvement with respect to extra resources and organizational issues that require closer evaluation and guidance from the regulatory bodies.