Abstract
Mental health disorders have started to increasingly become a public concern with more resources and efforts are being put to promote awareness and fight stigmas associated with it. Depression represents one of the most common mental health disorders with a great economic and social burden both globally and in Saudi Arabia. This study focuses on addressing depression in Saudi Arabia. The epidemiology of depression in Saudi Arabia is described using Bellingham-Young basic principles model, describing the issue from the perspectives of who; when; where; what and why. The causes of depression among patients in Saudi Arabia is described in this study, mainly in relation to chronic diseases, age and gender. Next, several approaches are suggested to tackle depression among its patients in Saudi Arabia. These approaches are described according to Ritsatakis and Jarvisalo variation of the established Dahlgren and Whitehead stages model. Lastly, depression is discussed in the light of consideration of the life course epidemiological issues and how life events may affect the development of depression in adulthood.
KEYWORDS: Depression – Life Course Issues - Mental Health – Tackling Approaches - Saudi Arabia