Oman continues to offer something precious: a society held together by family, faith and strong communities.
That is not a romantic slogan, but a real social strength: one that deserves recognition at a time when suicides are rising in many parts of the world.
Oman is making progress by providing more medical facilities dedicated to mental health, but depression and mental illness are still too often stigmatised.
Across the Arab world, suicide remains a subject often spoken about in whispers, if at all. Even so, suicide rates in many Western countries appear higher than in Arab Middle Eastern societies.
Social connection, religious faith, family cohesion and close community ties all seem to offer a measure of protection, even if they do not provide complete immunity.
In many Western societies, the individual stands more alone. People may live farther from extended family, move more often for work and face loneliness behind apparently comfortable lives.
Where family ties are looser, distress can go unseen for longer. By contrast, in Arab societies, including Oman, the extended family still has a powerful presence.
Parents, siblings, cousins, uncles and aunts often remain closely connected, offering support in practical and emotional ways. That sense of belonging can matter enormously when a person is struggling.
Religion also plays a significant part. Muslim societies have a moral and spiritual structure that gives meaning to life. In addition, faith offers a reason to endure hardship. It is not a cure for despair, but it can be a strong source of resilience during difficult times.
There is also a cultural difference to explain why poor mental health well-being may be less catastrophic in Middle Eastern countries. A financial crisis, a broken marriage, or a child’s unemployment is often felt by the whole family. That can sometimes be burdensome, but it can also be protective. Someone who is isolated in a Western city may have no one to notice that they are sliding into depression.
In a closely knit Omani household, people find that their struggles are quickly seen and family members offer support.
The threat of suicide is especially relevant for men.
In the UK, men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women. In societies where masculine pride and the obligation to support the family are highly valued, unemployment or marital breakdown can strike at a man’s identity as well as income.
The shame of not coping may deepen his risk of depression. Modern pressures have not spared Arab countries. Employment uncertainty, joblessness and family pressures are all real and growing concerns. The protective support of traditional social bonds can be weakened when younger people live more urban, more separated lives.
It would be wrong, however, to pretend that extended families solve everything. They do not. They can become places of tension and pressure.
Under-reporting causes serious problems and some tragedies are never recorded properly. Even so, the broad lesson is encouraging. Where people have strong webs of family, faith and communal obligation, despair may be less likely to lead to suicide. That is not because Arab societies are perfect, but because human beings are less likely to break when they are not entirely alone.
Oman must preserve what is precious in its social life while facing mental health problems with honesty and compassion. The answer is not to copy less socially supportive western societies, but to strengthen the bonds already present while making it easier for men and women alike to speak openly before silence becomes tragedy.
In that way, Oman can remain true to its values while also protecting those who may be struggling quietly.
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