Mental health undermined: experts

Youth, working class among most affected segment

LAHORE:

Mental illnesses have increased among the masses due to the economic crisis and unemployment caused by Covid-19, said Institute of Public Health Dean Dr Zarafshan Zafar on World Mental Health Day. She said October 10 marks the World Mental Health Day, however, this serious health issue has been ignored by the government. “The people most affected by mental illnesses are the youth and working class of the country,” she said.

The doctor maintained that health officials and psychologists have been asking the government to start career counselling at schools, universities and the organisational level. “Besides this, they want to increase the quota of psychologists and psychiatrists in every department,” she said. This day invites psychologists and all stakeholders to talk about the sensitivity of mental health issues.

As per health experts, around 50 million people in the country have been facing issues of mental health in while the suicide ratio in the country has been continuously increasing due to ignorance from the side of government. “This year our government and public should see World Mental Health Day from the perspective of Covid-19 as at this time, it is a challenge for the whole world to counter stress from the destruction of this pandemic,” said Dr Zafar.