Today is October 10 – World Mental Health Day. On this day, urgent calls are being given to acknowledge the mental health crisis in Pakistan and how it has grown worse over the years. This year, the spotlight has been placed on work-related stress as one factor crucial in preventing anxiety, depression, and even other mental illnesses. But Pakistan is in a more urgent need, considering the rapid upsurge within all ages.
Growing Mental Health Crisis in Pakistan
Mental health cases have increased substantially in Pakistan in the last few years. It is largely observed that many of the youth as well as a major population are suffering from anxiety and depression disorders. The main reasons for this problem are job-related stress, uncertainty about the future, and socio-economic challenges. Around 50 million people are suffering from mental health conditions. However, most of these patients do not get the proper treatment because of stigma and lack of awareness, besides weak healthcare infrastructure.
There’s an acute shortage of mental health services in remote areas, especially Sindh. It is found that regions such as Thar and Umerkot are at the top of the list for suicide rates, where access to proper care and mental health facilities is minimal.
Lack of Resources and Institutional Support:
Currently, the only mental health institute in the province is the Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, established in 1852. Though the Sindh government remains committed to upgrading this institution into a modern-day mental health university, it has moved at a snail’s pace. The Sindh Mental Health Act of 2015 was also formulated to safeguard the mentally ill but remains ignored.
As many as a dozen years ago, the foremost jurist of the country Dr. Jamil Junejo had, with a group of specialized practitioners, evolved a comprehensive act for streamlining the mental health services in Sindh, 2019. And still, the provincial government has approved it, yet no practical implementation so far has been witnessed.
Women and the Youth Most Vulnerable
Mental illness, unfortunately, impacts women and youth mainly. Victims of domestic violence, confined to houses largely, are more prone to develop more mental illnesses. According to Dr. Iqra Rahim, people affected by minimal social interactions get instant effects. The youth, with educational pressures and a lack of job opportunities, are subject to anxiety, depression, and even thinking of taking their lives.
Suicide has, the WHO reports, become the fourth cause of death among young people in Pakistan. The country experiences almost 50-55 suicides each day, and immediate steps have to be taken to create public awareness and negate the stigma attached to mental illness.
Challenges to Accessing Mental Health Care
Another challenge often portrayed in terms of dealing with mental health is the stigma attached to the society of Pakistan. Most people carry misconceptions and cultural beliefs, so avoiding seeking help due to their mental illness becoming a taboo subject generally arises. This is not just limited to adults but is also transferred to children and can result in very severe long-term outcomes if not dealt with early.
It is also beset by an acute shortage of professionals dealing with mental health; less than 1,000 licensed psychiatrists are to be found nationwide. The shortage is so gaping that it becomes challenging for the health sector to increase services provided to people, and therefore it requires joint efforts towards change.
Collective Action and Awareness Campaigns
Building awareness and educating the public about mental health is pivotal in breaking the cycle of stigma, and public campaigns like the new one launched by the British Asian Trust and the Mir Khalil Ur Rehman Foundation (MKRF) bring mental health issues to the forefront. The Milkar campaign seeks the engagement of various communities and multiple stakeholders for dialogue, prevention, and services for those in need.
It would reach a wide audience through Geo/Jang platforms, encouraging people to take pre-emptive steps to improve their mental well-being. That made much sense by emphasizing how the detection of mental health problem signs and symptoms proves important support for loved ones before looking for professional help when the situation calls for it.
Mental Health in Pakistan
Improving the mental health scenario in Pakistan would entail multi-pronged action. Investment in education regarding mental health, heightened awareness by media and public awareness campaigns, and efficient support systems constitute some of the steps that would address the crisis effectively. Encouraging open discussions among people in society might help change their perception toward disorderly living and shall empower them for healthy seeking.
In short, this crisis sits at the crossroads of Pakistan’s future, where 64 percent are youth. Their combined energies and directional efforts are placed upon prevention, and it is through such that hope can be projected forward into a healthier, more resilient society – focusing on mental health as a basis of well-being, paving the pathways to a bright future for Pakistan’s next generation.
Mental health is not just an individual problem but indeed a collective problem. Collectively, we can have a culture where mental wellness will give a life of dignity free from the shadow of mental illness.
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