BACKGROUND: Mental stigma occurs when patients with various mental disorders are labeled by their disorders. Little is known about the burden of mental stigma on patients with mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of mental stigma on patients with psychiatric disorder in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among previously diagnosed patients with any psychiatric disorder attending King Khalid Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia. The patients were interviewed with a sociodemographic questionnaire and a validated Arabic version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI-29) scale. Chi-square test and t-test were used to assess the association between various demographic characteristics and presence of stigma. RESULTS: The study included 489 patients with different psychiatric disorders. The mean age of the participants was 32.8 years and 54.6% were females. About 39% participants showed no to minimal internalized stigma, 37.4% of total sample had mild stigma, 20% had moderate stigma, and 3.7% had severe stigma. A signficantly higher proportion (71.4%) of widowed patients had stigma (P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Self-stigma is prevalent among patients with psychiatric disorders in Abha, Saudi Arabia, but lower than the prevalence in developing countries. Marital status has a significant impact on the prevalence and severity of the self-stigma of patients. There is a need for awareness program to reduce self-stigma. Psychiatric institutions should also focus on promotion of patients’ social life and increase patient’s awareness of certain issues that could prevent stigma.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and to explore its association with social media usage among high school students in Abha city, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the selected public high schools in Aseer region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from March 12, 2023 to March 17, 2023. A total of 346 (36%) students were worried about how their look. The most areas of concern included their nose shape and size (26.7%), having acne (19.1%), abdomen shape (18.6%), and their weight (18.2%). Female students showed 3.5 times more likelihood for perceived BDD than males (OR = 3.52; 95% CI: 2.13–5.83), while non-Saudi showed 74% more likelihood for perceived BDD than Saudi students (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.02–2.99). BDD is common in Saudi Arabia. Certain demographics were associated with BDD in our study such as female gender and non-Saudi Arabian nationality. The results emphasize the need for safe social networking, particularly among teenagers, and for public education about the dangers of borderline personality disorder and its effects.

The transition to university is a critical period for establishing lifelong health habits, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where non-communicable diseases linked to lifestyle are increasingly prevalent. To address this, our study sought to comprehensively assess lifestyle behaviors, mental health status, and their combined impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among students at King Khalid University. We conducted a cross-sectional study between September 2024 and February 2025, recruiting 865 undergraduates via a two-stage stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a validated online questionnaire that included the FANTASTIC lifestyle and EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level (EQ-5D-3L) instruments. Our study population exhibited a significant health burden; 37.6% were overweight or obese, 55.9% reported anxiety or depression, and 36.1% experienced pain or discomfort. Although the mean lifestyle score was generally positive, regression analysis revealed that anxiety/depression was the strongest predictor of a poorer lifestyle (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 2.02–4.28). This study concludes that a profound negative association exists between mental health, lifestyle, and overall HRQoL, highlighting the urgent need for integrated wellness policies and support systems within the university setting to address these interconnected challenges.

The transition to university is a critical period for establishing lifelong health habits, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where non-communicable diseases linked to lifestyle are increasingly prevalent. To address this, our study sought to comprehensively assess lifestyle behaviors, mental health status, and their combined impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among students at King Khalid University. We conducted a cross-sectional study between September 2024 and February 2025, recruiting 865 undergraduates via a two-stage stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a validated online questionnaire that included the FANTASTIC lifestyle and EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level (EQ-5D-3L) instruments. Our results indicated a dual health burden, with a significant proportion of students being overweight or obese (37.6%) and a high prevalence of self-reported anxiety or depression (55.9%). Although the mean lifestyle score was generally positive, regression analysis revealed that anxiety/depression was the strongest predictor of a poorer lifestyle (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 2.02–4.28). This study concludes that a profound negative association exists between mental health, lifestyle, and overall HRQoL, highlighting the urgent need for integrated wellness policies and support systems within the university setting to address these interconnected challenges.