Professor Kaltham Al-Ghanim, Director of the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) at Qatar University (QU), stated that the institute with support from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is currently conducting ‘The World Mental Health Qatar’ (WMHQ) study, which is the first national study aiming to collect comprehensive data on the prevalence and associated factors of mental disorders to enhance our understanding of the epidemiology of mental illness in Qatar’s society today.
The study aligns with the important goals and objectives of the Qatar’s National Vision 2030, supporting the desired outcome of “a healthy population”. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin J. Al-Thani, Director of the Ministry of Public Health, kindly invites the public to take part in this important scientific research: “Your participation can help us improve mental wellbeing in Qatar”.
Researchers at (SESRI-QU) led by Dr. Salma M. Khaled, Research Associate Professor, are conducting this important study in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Harvard University, University of Michigan, (HMC), and (MoPH). The project is part of an international consortium in survey research, an initiative that has collected data in more than 30 countries worldwide (Lebanon, Iraq, USA, France, Germany, Japan etc.) and it has been instrumental in supporting countries to establish the necessary infrastructure to collect representative epidemiological data of population mental health.
Research is important because of the discoveries that make our lives better. This scientific research aims to measure the prevalence of mental disorders, determine the burden of these disorders, and assess the use of mental health services and treatment in Qatar. Using well-tested methodology approved by the WHO, the interviews are conducted in Arabic, by highly trained interviewers. Qataris and Arab expatriates 18 years old and above are randomly selected to participate in the telephone survey. Those who are selected for participation will be sent an SMS link from Qatar University (QUsms) and will receive a phone call by one of our study interviewers. Participation in the study is voluntary and anonymous.
Mental health is a vital part of physical health and our goal is to inform improvement of the mental health services and treatment in Qatar. Your contribution is essential, as it will help us increase awareness and achieve a better mental health level for all of us. For more information about the study, please visit our website.