The minister spelled out his plans at a meeting of the national committee for the care of psychiatric patients on Saturday.

The minister said the committee would explore the possibility of setting up its headquarters in the capital to look after people’s mental health. He said new groups comprising volunteers and professionals would be formed to provide medical treatment and counseling to the patients and their families. He said mental health is an important area which deserves special attention.

Beginning next year, the minister said, a comprehensive awareness campaign about the disease would be carried out in all regions. He said a new theme and logo would be developed for the program to suit the needs of the people. "To choose a suitable logo, the ministry will hold a competition among people to help them understand the problems related to mental health."

On Sunday, the minister also met with the Resident Representative of the United Nations Fund for Population Families (UNFPA) Asr Ahmed Toson in Riyadh.

The two parties discussed the programs provided by the UNFPA for the GCC countries and how the partnership and cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the Fund could be developed for mutual interests, especially in youth-oriented programs such as prevention of AIDS through education, the fight against smoking, drugs, as well as reproductive health and birth.    

Meanwhile, the First International Conference on Psychiatry will be organized by the Armed Forces Hospital in Riyadh on Oct. 25.

The president of the hospital's department of psychiatry and president of the organizing committee, Dr. Saeed bin Ghandar Kadsah, said the two-day conference would discuss the latest developments in psychiatric medicine, addiction medicine and psychological treatment.