JEDDAH: Psychiatrists have urged putting in place standards to protect the rights of the mentally ill and raise awareness in order to eliminate the stigma of shame targeting patients and those wishing to seek treatment.
They raised the “dignity in mental health” slogan, the theme of World Mental Health Day 2015, stressing that families should offer their kin suffering mental illness the special care they need
Psychiatrists warned families against consulting unqualified psychologists and instead go to specialized psychiatric hospitals to make sure that patients receive care that meets psychiatric and medical care of a high standard.
Experts and psychologists working in the mental health sector have urged families and patients to continuously update their knowledge with the newest information that will help protect the dignity of patients.
Dr. Nawaf Al-Harthi, director of Jeddah Psychiatric Hospital, expressed the need to raise awareness of the patient’s rights to dignity: “As experts in psychiatry, we are working to raise awareness of the people surrounding the patient, which is to consider the best service and care we can provide them.”
Assistant Professor of Psychology at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Dr. Arwa Hosni, said that people can sometimes overcome obstacles and difficulties facing them, yet it could be hard for others to overcome their problems alone so they seek professional help.
“Arab society used not to believe in psychiatry and its importance, but now we see more awareness and great progress in this field,” Dr. Hosni said. However, she warned against those who use this profession as a business with a lack of proper qualifications, stressing the need to raise awareness in this regard, “People need to ensure that the specialist is qualified in this area, and knows the patient’s rights,” she said adding that professional psychological treatment centers and specialists in community awareness need to work to decrease the stigma facing some patients.
Family consultant Nawal Othman Al-Zahrani said that large segments of society are still unaware of the concept of psychiatric health as they try to neglect the mental and psychological illness and usually label people with the stigma of shame.
She stressed that the psychiatric health is a form of balance between the soul, mind and body that achieves harmony and makes people productive. “With the rising social and economic challenges, there’s a higher need for creating awareness of the importance of psychiatric health,” she added.
Shame stigmatizes people afflicted with mental illnesses
Shame stigmatizes people afflicted with mental illnesses
‘Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra’ shine at Maraya in AlUla
- The concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity
- It underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level
RIYADH: The “Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra” concert opened at Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla on Thursday under the patronage of the Kingdom’s Minister of Culture and Chairman of the board of the Music Commission Prince Bader bin Abdullah.
Organized by the Music Commission, the concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity.
The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Maestro Hani Farhat, led audiences through carefully curated pieces reflecting heritage and modern creativity.
The repertoire combined traditional influences with orchestral scoring, offering listeners heritage-based compositions alongside recent arrangements.
Regional rhythms and layered musical textures were used to echo the Kingdom’s history, while pieces rooted in Saudi classical music tradition connected audiences with familiar cultural references in a fresh format.
The concert underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level.
The series seeks to honor national heritage while encouraging contemporary artistic engagement, and its growing local and international presence was highlighted throughout the evening.
The program also featured a visual dimension led by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, which staged live performances of Saudi folk arts.
Audiences saw presentations of Samri, Dahha, Rafeihi, Yanbawi, Zair and Khabeeti, synchronized with the orchestra to create one integrated artistic experience.
These folk elements were arranged to complement the orchestral sound, reinforcing the richness and variety of Saudi cultural identity. The combination of music and movement aimed to show how traditional forms can engage with large-scale concert settings while retaining their historical character and community roots.
This performance is an extension of the series of successes achieved by the Saudi Orchestra’s masterpieces both locally and internationally, and reaffirms the Music Commission’s commitment to showcasing Saudi music in its finest form.
