Representational image. PHOTO: FILE
RAWALPINDI: The federal government is considering a proposal to set up an institute for patients suffering from psychiatric disorders.
Numbers of patients suffering from mental diseases have witnessed a sharp increase during the last few years, said Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Sawati on Saturday.
Federal government in consultation with health ministry and the medical associations would form a policy for the treatment of people suffering from psychiatric disorders, Swati said at the 10th National Conference on Depression organised by the Rawal Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS) Department of Psychiatry at a local hotel.
He said the society needs to recognise and appreciate the services of psychiatrists and psychologists for their services to the people suffering from ailments that are otherwise invisible to common people.
Mental health services inaugurated at Centre for Clinical Psychology
The senator stressed for the need for research on the rise in the numbers of people suffering from depressive disorder, causes of depression and finding a link between the modern lifestyle and depression.
RIHS Chairperson Dr Haqan Waheed Khawaja while speaking on the occasion said the factors responsible for the increasing number of mentally ill patients are as complex as power shortages, non-availability of potable water, unemployment, traffic jams, intolerance, insecurity, and law and order situation.
He said that in the way that as our channels broadcast breaking news also increases depression,"We need to adopt more realistic and optimistic approach to bring out a real change and ease in our society", he added.
He proposed that the federal and provincial governments should take all stakeholders on-board in mental health promotion, prevention, care and rehabilitation programmes.
Earlier Professor Mazhar Malik, Professor Rizwan Taj, Professor Muhammad Riaz Bhatti,Colonel (Retd) Habib and other health experts also spoke on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2018.
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