Article 23 of the Saudi Mental Health Law
المادة 23 من نظام الرعاية الصحية النفسية
If the treatment team finds that returning home is not in the patient's interest or he has no shelter, he is referred to a convalescent home for mental illness with the local council's approval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تبين للفريق العلاجي أن المريض النفسي ليس من مصلحته العودة إلى المنزل الذي أتى منه أو لا يتوافر له مأوى، فيحال إلى إحدى دور رعاية ناقهي الأمراض النفسية بحسب سنه وجنسه، وظروفه النفسية والاجتماعية، وذلك بعد موافقة مجلس المراقبة المحلي للرعاية الصحية النفسية.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 23 explained in plain English
This Article deals with the stage after treatment, when the patient is ready to leave but has no suitable place to return to.
The two cases:
- The treatment team finds that it is not in the patient's interest to return to the home he came from.
- Or he has no shelter.
The solution: he is referred to one of the convalescent homes for mental illnesses. Under Article 1, these homes are for sheltering mental patients who have exceeded the treatment period set in the facility and still need shelter.
Criteria for choosing the home: according to the patient's age, sex, and psychological and social circumstances.
The safeguard: the referral takes place only after the approval of the local supervisory council. The treatment team's decision alone is not enough.
This Article shows that the Law does not stop at treatment inside the facility but cares about the patient's fate afterward, in line with its aim of protecting his rights and dignity. The Article does not say which body runs these homes or what the conditions for admission to them are, so nothing that does not appear in it should be assumed.
If you have a specific case, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in health regulations and patients' rights.
Practical example
An elderly man in Al-Ahsa finished his treatment at a mental facility, but the treatment team found that he had no shelter after the death of the person who used to care for him. The team recommended referring him to a convalescent home for mental illness suited to his age and circumstances, and the referral took place after the local supervisory council approved.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 23 of the Saudi Mental Health Law
What happens to a mental patient with no shelter after treatment?
He is referred to one of the convalescent homes for mental illness according to his age, sex and circumstances, after the local supervisory council approves.
Can a patient be referred to a care home without the approval of an oversight body?
No. The Article requires the approval of the local supervisory council for mental health care.
More articles on Patients' Rights Committee and Post-Discharge Care
- Article 21
A patients' rights committee is formed in each inpatient mental facility by decision of the regional health director to inform patients of their rights, receive their complaints and refer them when needed.
تكوَّن بقرار من مدير الشؤون الصحية في المنطقة لجنة لرعاية حقوق المرضى النفسيين في كل منشأة علاجية نفسية معدة للتنويم، على النحو الآتي : 1 - أحد أعضاء الجمعيات ا
- Article 22
The Article requires the treating physician to tell the facility's management when no bed is available for a patient who needs admission, so it informs the regional health director to provide what is needed.
يجب على الطبيب المعالج - عند عدم توافر سرير للمريض الذي تستدعي حالته التنويم في المنشأة العلاجية النفسية - إبلاغ إدارة المنشأة العلاجية النفسية بذلك؛ لتقوم بإبل
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.