Psychiatric rehabilitation in Oman: service gaps and a framework for recovery-oriented care

Psychiatric rehabilitation is a crucial aspect of recovery-oriented mental healthcare, yet it remains underdeveloped in Oman. This paper reviews the current state of rehabilitation services, identifying systemic gaps in in-patient, day care and community-based provisions. Services are fragmented, lacking adequate multidisciplinary integration, sufficient community rehabilitation and supported housing, which leads to prolonged hospital stays. Additionally, broader challenges such as stigma and limited intersectoral collaboration hinder service development. The paper suggests practical strategies to enhance rehabilitation services, including the establishment of multidisciplinary teams, expansion of community programmes, provision of supported accommodation and workforce training, all aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and the principles of recovery-oriented mental health care.