They called on families, workplaces and schools to accept mentally ill people and never think of them as lunatics.

Suicide cases in the Kingdom reached 787 in 2010, an increase of 39 percent over the previous year, according to the Jeddah General Psychiatrist Hospital.

An official source at the hospital told Arab News Friday that between 100 and 120 patients come to the hospital every day seeking treatment for various psychological disorders. “At least five of these cases need to be admitted,” he added.

The hospital has 120 beds, of which 20 have been set aside for women. “These figures are enough proof that mental illnesses are on the rise throughout the Kingdom,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

He added many mentally ill Saudis shy away from psychiatric hospitals and prefer to go to faith healers and magicians for treatment. “Some of the patients do not know that they are psychologically unwell and hence will keep silent until their conditions have deteriorated,” he said.

Arab News toured a number of clinics for the mentally ill in Jeddah and talked to a number of patients who were now convinced that their illnesses were curable.

“I came to this clinic after I became fed up of the fake sheikhs and the magicians who claimed they were able to cure me as my condition had became worse,” said Saleh M.

He said he used to bite his nails since childhood and when he reached puberty, he became fearful of germs and bacteria. “I used to take many baths every day. I was unable to continue my normal life. I sought treatment with the fake sheikhs who only conned me out of my money. At last I realized that I was going in the wrong direction and had to seek professional help,” he said.

Saleh said though he was forced by his brothers to go to the clinic, he had no regrets. “I have now greatly improved. I urge any family with a mentally ill member to do whatever is necessary to ensure he gets the right help,” he said.

A woman who did not want to be identified said she was oversensitive and worried by the simplest things in life.”My friends and relatives advised me to see the sheikhs who did nothing. I finally came to the clinic where I am now greatly improving,” she said.

A 25-year-old Saudi told Arab News that he visited a number of sheikhs to cure him of stuttering. “Despite the large sum of money I spent on visiting them, the sheikhs failed and I had to seek treatment elsewhere. I came to this clinic and the doctors told me that my stuttering could be cured,” he said.

A woman teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said she was shy and would sweat and blush in her school and in social gatherings.

“The fake sheikhs only made my condition worse. I am now receiving proper treatment at this clinic and my condition has greatly improved,” she said.

Sociologist Youssef Ibrahim said many patients only come to the psychiatric clinics after their conditions have worsened. “Like any other diseases, mental illnesses can take a long time to cure if they are not dealt with straight away,” he said.

He added most patients suffer from deep stress, fear, panic attacks, fatigue and fits of weeping. “Many of them are cured in the first few weeks. So there is no need to avoid psychiatric hospitals and clinics,” Ibrahim said.