The National Center for Mental Health Promotion announced the results of the mental health index in the Kingdom for the year 2022 AD, which shows a slight decrease in the prevalence of depressive symptoms, in which the percentage reached (12.7%) compared to 2020, which amounted to (13.8%). The risk of depression is higher in the age group over 60 years, with a higher probability of infection in females, and the risk rates increase if the income is less than 5 thousand riyals, and people with less than normal weights suffer from symptoms of depression more severe than others, and it is interesting Volunteering is associated with reducing symptoms of depression, and smoking increases the risk of infection with it. The center indicated that the general anxiety index increased slightly compared to 2020 AD, and the index showed more severe symptoms in the age group of less than 20 years and over 60 years, and the index indicates a higher probability of infection among females With symptoms of general anxiety, with a correlation with an increase in anxiety symptoms in the absence of a fixed income or an income of less than 5,000, with a slight increase in married couples compared to unmarried individuals.
The center reported that the index shows a significant decrease in symptoms of anxiety among those who practice voluntary work or daily hobbies, and smoking was associated with higher rates of anxiety than non-smokers, indicating that the index and by comparison with countries in the world that the Kingdom achieves lower levels in prevalence rates of symptoms of depression and general anxiety.