‘Nearly 500 patients visit hospital daily for mental health issues’

There is only one professional for every 0.1m people, says psychologist

RAHIM YAR KHAN:

At least 400 to 500 patients come daily for psychological treatments in Sheikh Zayed Hospital, said Department of Psychiatry Head Dr Ali Burhan Mustafa on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.

“In the last seven years, 27 beds have been added to the mental health ward,” he said.

“In view of the growing number of patients, the establishment of the institute of mental health is a need of the time,” said Dr Mustafa while talking to The Express Tribune.

Dr Arooj Burhan Mustafa, Clinical Psychologist Fauzia Umar Daraz, Uniza Khan and Arshma Khalid were also present on the occasion.

Dr Mustafa said that Pakistan is one of the countries in the world where mental health facilities are almost equal to zero.

“The number of mental health professionals is only in hundreds,” he said. “There is only one professional for every 0.1 million people,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2020.