Culturally Informed Mental Healthcare: Saudi Nursing Embracing Vision 2030's Diversity Goals

Abstract

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 outlines ambitious goals for healthcare transformation, with a focus on improving access, quality, and cultural competence of care, particularly for mental health services. Nurses, as the largest healthcare workforce in the country, have a critical role to play in achieving these goals and promoting a culturally informed approach to mental healthcare. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence on the contributions of Saudi nursing in embracing cultural diversity and providing culturally competent mental health services, in alignment with Vision 2030's priorities. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using relevant databases, and 50 studies were included in the review. The findings highlight the challenges and opportunities of cultural diversity in the Saudi nursing workforce, and the importance of cultural competence in improving the access, acceptability, and outcomes of mental health care for diverse populations. The review also identifies the enablers and barriers to the development and implementation of culturally informed mental health interventions by nurses, such as education and training, organizational support, and interprofessional collaboration. Strategies for optimizing the cultural competence of nurses in mental health care are discussed, including cultural assessment, patient-centered communication, and community engagement. The review concludes with recommendations for future research, policy, and practice to support the empowerment of nurses as leaders in providing culturally informed mental health services in Saudi Arabia.