Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Asir Region and Chairman of Asir’s Development Authority, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Sattam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Asir Region, inaugurated the Fourth Scientific Forum on Schizophrenia entitled "Challenges and Directions," which is being hosted by King Khalid University from November 27 to 29, 2024.

The forum serves as a prominent scientific platform for exchanging expertise and discussing the latest challenges and trends related to schizophrenia, with the participation of a select group of specialists and researchers from both inside and outside the Kingdom.

During the ceremony, a visual presentation showcasing the success stories of beneficiaries of the Saudi Schizophrenia Patients Association "Ihtima" was presented, followed by a speech delivered by the Deputy Chairman of the Association's Board of Directors, Abdulaziz Al-Hussein, who emphasized the importance of joining forces to confront the challenges of schizophrenia, which affects 1% of the world's population. He also highlighted the significance of strengthening family and social support and creating an appropriate environment for integrating patients into society.

The head of the forum's scientific committee, Dr. Mohammad bin Zayed Asiri, mentioned in his speech that the forum's sessions and workshops, which will continue for two days, focus on early diagnosis, treatment methods, and the importance of rehabilitation and community care. He presented statistics indicating the registration of 2001 new cases over the past two years and cumulative visits exceeding 7400 cases.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Deputy Governor of Asir Region witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between the Association and King Khalid University, as well as between the Association and the Asir Health Association, with the aim of improving the quality of life for schizophrenia patients and their families. The opening of the forum was attended by the President of the Saudi Schizophrenia Patients Association "Ihtima," Her Royal Highness Princess Samira bint Abdullah bin Faisal, along with His Excellency the President of the University, Prof. Faleh bin Rajallah Al-Solami, and a number of regional officials.

The forum comes within the university’s framework to contribute effectively to societal issues, strengthen cooperation with various institutions to improve the quality of life and support patients and their families, and highlight the university's leading role in providing scientific knowledge and linking it to community service, as well as attracting the best global practices to address psychological and social challenges.