Self-medication for mental health can be disastrous: expert

KARACHI:

Self-medication in mental stress and anxiety can be disastrous as it could lead to substance abuse and even suicide, said, Dr Ziauddin Hospital Psychiatry Dept
Chairman and Consultant Psychiatrist Prof Dr Imran Bashir Chaudhry.

He was talking at the 16th interactive series of ZU Dialogues, titled "Make Mental Health and Well-Being for all a Global Priority", organised by College of Clinical
Psychology, Ziauddin University.

Putting mental health first and making it available to everyone is the primary priority of the event.

ZU Dialogue was the last activity in Ziauddin University’s week-long celebration of mental health. "You start self-medicating to fulfill your mental health," Dr Imran
Chaudhry stated, elaborating on his point of view.

As a result, you start smoking or using drugs as self-medication to receive instead of talking to friends and family," he said.