Experts urge government to adopt comprehensive national mental health strategy to tackle growing crisis
One in three people in Pakistan suffer from some form of psychological disorder, experts revealed at the 26th International Conference on Mental Health in Karachi. These alarming figures highlight a growing mental health crisis driven by social, economic and environmental stressors.
Chairman of the scientific committee of the conference, Professor Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, said The Express PK Press Club that 34 percent of the Pakistani population, or one in three people, suffers from mental disorders, compared to one in five people worldwide.
He said women are disproportionately affected, largely because of domestic conflict and social inequality. “In Pakistan, women are often denied the respect and recognition they deserve, leading to increased levels of depression and anxiety,” he noted.
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Professor Afridi added that the use of narcotics such as crystal meth (ice) and other addictive substances is fueling an increase in mental health problems among young people. He also highlighted repeated natural disasters – floods and earthquakes, as well as terrorism and violence – as major factors causing psychological trauma among populations.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Wajid Ali Akhundzada, President, Psychiatric Society of Pakistan, said, “In Pakistan, one in four young people and one in five children suffer from some form of psychological illness. » It estimated that around 2.5 million people suffer from serious mental health problems, often linked to economic hardship, political instability and disaster-related stress.
He further revealed that 10 percent of Pakistanis are drug addicts. He mentioned that around 1,000 people committed suicide last year due to mental illness.
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Experts at the conference warned that the country faces a serious shortage of mental health professionals. With a population of 240 million, Pakistan has only 90 qualified psychiatrists, while the World Health Organization recommends one psychiatrist for every 10,000 people. Currently, there is approximately one psychiatrist for every 550,000 patients, a ratio described as “grossly insufficient”.
Psychiatrist Dr Afzal Javed and other speakers said Pakistan’s economic instability, unemployment, recurring natural disasters and border tensions have all contributed to widespread psychological distress, particularly among young people. “Young people today feel hopeless and uncertain about their future,” said Dr Javed.
Experts have urged the government to adopt a comprehensive national mental health strategy to tackle the growing crisis. They also drew attention to environmental degradation, noting that Pakistan’s forest cover is only 4%, exacerbating anxiety and stress related to climate change among the population.
