King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) is a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which conducts and funds laboratory and field research on all aspects and ages of disability. Its aim is to improve the quality of life of all persons living with disabilities by promoting research that results in real life changes and activities that help reduce the impact of disability.

King Salman Center for Disability Research was established to address the real and important needs of persons with disabilities and their families. In addressing those needs, the KSCDR has set its goal as the promotion, conduct and support of scientific research and the application of new knowledge to the benefit of persons with disabilities and their families.

The Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS) was championed Mr. Khalid Al-Turki, Member of the Board of Trustees at King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR). KSCDR was responsible for initiating the program, the center played a major role in developing the research team, recruited the local and international partners, developed local by-in, secured funding, and hosted and provided the training for the data collectors. In addition, Ms. Mona Shahab, Ms. Noha Kattan, and Ms. Feda Al-Tuwaijri played critical roles in not only the management of the Program but also the technical role out of the Program.

SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) is a diversified manufacturing company, active in chemicals and intermediates, industrial polymers, fertilizers and metals and is Ranked among the world’s largest petrochemicals manufacturers.

It is the largest public company in Saudi Arabia as listed in Tadawul, but the Saudi government still owns 70% of its shares with the remaining 30% held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

SABIC began in 1976 by Royal decree and its growth has been nothing short of miraculous. Today, the company has operations in over 40 countries with a global workforce of over 40,000 talented individuals.

SABIC not only excels in the world of international business but also contributes significantly to society in many countries around the world. SABIC is dedicated to building a supportive relationship with the community outside our walls.

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is an independent scientific organization administratively reporting to the Prime Minister. KACST is both the Saudi Arabian national science agency and its national laboratories. The science agency function involves science and technology policy making, data collection, funding of external research, and services such as the patent office. KACST has currently over 2500 employees.

KACST has supported many scientific research projects aiming to serve developmental issues in various sectors. These research projects have yielded good results which have benefited various parties of both the private and public sectors. KACST has also provided scientists, researchers and students in Saudi universities with considerable support and services.

KACST is also in the process of implementing many research projects in its labs and research centers which are well equipped. KACST research helps in solving many developmental problems that the Kingdom encounters in different areas of both the public and private sectors.

Since the modern state of Saudi Arabia was first founded by King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud (God rest his soul), public health and disease control were among the government’s top priorities. The creation of the Kingdom’s healthcare system coincided with King Abdul Aziz’s takeover of Al-Hijaz and his designation of Mecca as the first Saudi capital.

The guidance of the founding King of Saudi Arabia allowed the new government to overcome the many obstacles and challenges in the early days of the nation, despite a lack of native resources and expertise. HRH’s strategy was to strengthen the Kingdom’s cooperation with world organizations and to collaborate with highly-qualified foreign experts. In addition to keeping pace with the latest international healthcare developments, the King also focused on building a strong infrastructure for a comprehensive health sector that would serve all regions of the Kingdom.

In 1343H/1925, King Abdul Aziz established the Public Health Department in Makkah. In 1344H\1925, Public Health and Ambulance was established to meet the needs of the Kingdom’s health and environmental sectors. The PHA built hospitals and health centers across the Kingdom and issued and enforced regulations to guarantee adequate standards for the practising of medicine and pharmacology.

The Ministry of Health played a major role in the logistics, recruitment of interviewers and drivers for the pilot study, and offered their full support.

King Saud University, the premier institution of higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was established in 1957 to enhance the nation’s growth and well-being.

Through strong government support and many highly-qualified professionals and administrators, KSU has supplied the Saudi people and market with years of invaluable service, and served as a traditional source of skilled professionals and academics needed to meet the nation’s growing needs in the areas of medicine, engineering, agriculture, science and development, the humanities and language.

King Saud University does not limit its roles to teaching and research, however, but extends its practical and vital academic functions to the development of Saudi health care and the needs of the private sector.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre provides the highest level of specialized healthcare in an integrated educational and research setting.

KFSH&RC is ranked among the top three (3) centers in the world by number of cases; as it relates to Medical Genetics. Some of the sub-specialties include: Congenital Immune Deficiencies and Pre- Implantation Genetic diagnosis. In the area of Neurosciences, we have established a comprehensive Epilepsy program, Movement Disorder program as well as conducting Stereotactic Epilepsy surgery. I am also pleased that our institution is in the forefront with Interventional Radiology, conducting 5,368 procedures during 2010.

The King Faisal Heart Centre has made considerable strides as it relates to patient services by increasing the capacity of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab procedures along with ten (10) new Pre-Catheterization clinics per week. This important development has reduced the waiting time from six (6) weeks to one (1) week.

Statistical activity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially begun with the issuance of the Imports & Exports Statistics System according to the Royal Decree No. (326) dated 3/2/1349H. This task was assigned to the Customs Department then later transferred to the Ministry of Finance & National Economy.

The General Authority for Statistics was established in accordance with the Kingdom's General Statistics System introduced by the Royal Decree No. (23) dated 7/12/1379H.; whereby GAS was subordinated at that time to the Ministry of Finance & National Economy, instead of the Statistics Section of the Ministry's General Directorate for Economic Affairs, which is considered GAS's nucleus. According to the Ministerial Decree No. 7/2870 dated 22/9/1392H. GAS was subordinated to the Ministry's Assistant Undersecretary for Budget & Organisation and became a public agency with an independent budget

The National Center for Mental Health Promotion was established by the Honorable Council of Ministers Decision No. 685 dated 1440/27/11, to create national programs that contribute to promoting mental health, creating a better life for community members, promoting positive participation, and supporting groups that are most vulnerable to mental disorders.

WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

In the 21st century, health is a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective defence against transnational threats

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the 30th country to join the World Mental Health Initiative under the World Health Organization’s umbrella.

Since the school was established in 1782, faculty members have improved human health by innovating in their roles as physicians, mentors and scholars. They’ve piloted educational models, developed new curricula to address emerging needs in health care, and produced thousands of leaders and compassionate caregivers who are shaping the fields of science and medicine throughout the world with their expertise and passion.

Members of the Harvard Medical School community have also excelled in the research arena. Faculty members have been making paradigm-shifting discoveries and achieving “firsts” since 1800, when HMS Professor Benjamin Waterhouse introduced the small pox vaccine to the United States. Their accomplishments are recognized internationally, and, in fact, fifteen researchers have shared in nine Nobel prizes for work completed while at the School.

Ronald Kessler, PhD - co-founder of the World Mental Health Initiative - and his team at Harvard University contributed tremendously to the study of SNMHS. They provided scientific and technical support to the KSA team (i.e. programming the instrument, codes, developing algorithms for the SCID).

The University of Michigan is a publicly-chartered, state-assisted institution with its main campus located in Ann Arbor, a lively and diverse city (population: 114,000). The Ann Arbor campus enrolls about 41,000 students and includes professional schools in Dentistry, Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy. Two branch campuses conduct research and provide undergraduate education. UM-Dearborn has about 8,725 students, four schools and colleges. UM-Flinthas four schools, 6,500 students.The University’s instructional staff numbers about 5,000, with a non-instructional staff 26,000, for a total employment of 31,000. It awards about 11,500 degrees each year.

Research is central to the University’s mission and permeates its schools and colleges. The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP) have central responsibility for administration and support of research activity by the faculty.

The University of Michigan is noted for its interdisciplinary research initiatives, such as nanoscience and technology, energy, and life sciences that involve faculty from many units on campus, including the Medical School, College of Engineering and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

Beth-Ellen Pennell, MS, director of Survey Research Operations (SRO) at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, and her team have been the back bone of the field work during the pilot study. Providing scientific and technical support to the KSA team as well as adapting management software (SurveyTrak) to fit the Saudi study. SRO also played a major role in data cleaning.