The first article written about psychiatric services in Qatar was published in BJPsych International in 2006. Since then, the health system in Qatar has undergone significant transformation in the areas of service delivery, research and education. International accreditations are sought in all these fields to emphasise the standard achieved. In this article, we follow up on the mental health services currently available in Qatar, their strengths and the associated challenges.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being tested and deployed in major hospitals to monitor patients, leading to improved health outcomes, lower costs, and time savings. This uptake is in its infancy, with new applications being considered. In this Article, the challenges of deploying AI in mental health wards are examined by reference to AI surveillance systems, suicide prediction and hospital administration. The examination highlights risks surrounding patient privacy, informed consent, and data considerations. Overall, these risks indicate that AI should only be used in a psychiatric ward after careful deliberation, caution, and ongoing reappraisal.

An undercurrent of change is occurring in Qatar's approach towards mental healthcare. In the past 5 years, significant attention has been given to community care initiatives. There is much progress to be made, but the provision of psychiatric support outside of hospitals, the launch of several community services and the tackling of the associated social stigma represent a marked step away from the norm that has usually pervaded in the region. This article analyses these changes and identifies the challenges that remain.

We are now seeing in clinical practice a generation of young women who are referred for psychiatric treatment by their parents because they are rebelling against society's cultural norms but it is often apparent that women fear their families finding out that they are seeking psychiatric help. Despite improvements in the cultural understanding of women's right to equality, there remain deeply rooted practices and cultural norms that continue to adversely affect women's mental health and well-being. Physical abuse, for instance, is rarely reported, for fear of shaming the family, or of retaliation with further abuse. Mental health services in many countries in the Middle East are undergoing reform, but little research has been done into gender differences in service delivery or needs.

The State of Qatar is a peninsula overlooking the Arabian Gulf, with an area of 11400 km2. The Al Thani family has ruled the country since the mid-1800s. The population of just over 860000 is of a multi-ethnic nature, and predominantly resides in the capital, Doha. Only about 20% of the population is Qatari. Around 73% of the population are between the ages of 15 and 64 years. Life expectancy at birth is 74.8 years for males and 73.8 years for females. The literacy rate is 94.9% for men and 82.3% for women. Arabic is the official language and English is a common second language. The economy is dominated by oil and natural gas, and the country has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. The per capita government expenditure on health is $574 (international dollars), which is among the highest in the region.