Pakistani men do not admit to having depression: psychiatrist

Dr Sarah Khan says cases of depression are reported more by women


A celebration was organised by Defence Housing Authority at Zamzama Park Friday afternoon to observe World Health Day. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN

KARACHI: Cases of depression are reported more by women in Pakistan while our men do not admit having depression.

Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Sarah Khan said this while talking to The Express Tribune during a celebration organised by Defence Housing Authority at Zamzama Park Friday afternoon to observe World Health Day. "According to a report, 57% of the population has a condition of depression," she said, adding that the reason of depression is a combination of external and internal factors.

On World Health Day 2017, WHO urges you to talk about depression

World Heath Day is observed every year on April 7 to draw attention towards the importance of global heath and to spread awareness among the public about health issues and concerns. The theme of World Health Day this year is depression, which is a neuropsychological condition that causes mental anguish and impacts people's ability to carry out everyday tasks. Health experts at Zamzama Park stressed that it is time to create awareness among the citizens as a large number of people have been affected with depression and anxiety in our country urged the health experts.

“It's a wrong perception that people impose depression on themselves,” said cognitive behaviour therapist Farida Saba Aslam. She maintained that it happens due to chemical changes in the brain. “It's high [time that we] accept it as a condition, which can be treated through medication or therapies,” she said.

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