KARACHI:
Mental health remains one of the most neglected fields in Pakistan, primarily due to multiple stigmas and myths attached to it. Unfortunately, mental illness has now escalated to such an extent that it is nothing short of a crisis. More than 15% of the population suffer from mild to moderate psychiatric illness, majority of whom are women. What is even more shocking is that the country has only one psychiatrist for every 10,000 patients, and one child psychiatrist for four million children, all of whom suffer from some form of mental disorders.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the government bring on board all relevant stakeholders, especially psychiatrists and mental health experts and create a governmental body in order to combat the crisis. The recent cases of suicide and killings is a testament to the fact that much focus is required to combat stigmas attached to mental illness. Citizens need to be made of aware, through scientific knowledge, of what an individual with mental illness goes through. All in all, we need to be more empathic towards others and threat them with respect and care.
Saneeda
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2020.
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