Around 30 per cent people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) suffer from mental ailments. Some of them recovered after treatment while a significant number of them lost their lives.
This was revealed at a seminar arranged by the Department of Sociology at the University of Peshawar, in partnership with Khyber Medical University, to mark World Mental Health Day.
The event featured Dr Johar Shah, the Dean of Social Sciences at the University of Peshawar, as the chief guest. Distinguished individuals, including Dr Zohaib Khan and Dr Abdul Jalil from Khyber Medical University and Dr Sanauddin from the University of Peshawar, were present, alongside numerous students, parents, and individuals from various backgrounds who actively participated in the seminar.
During his address at the seminar, Dr Johar Shah, the Dean of Social Sciences, highlighted the alarming issue of student suicides in Pakistan, noting that it is not an uncommon occurrence.
He cited a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stating that Pakistan records more than 15,000 suicide cases annually, with approximately 25% of these cases involving teenagers.
Despite religious teachings discouraging such actions, many individuals still choose this path due to a sense of darkness in their lives.
Dr Johar Shah emphasized that for students, family and peer pressure often top the list of reasons behind their emotional struggles. He encouraged them to understand that life should not be solely defined by achieving high grades or g aining admission to specific institutions.
Dr. Zohaib Khan, when addressing the critical issues surrounding students’ mental health, pointed out that undue pressure is often placed on young individuals. When they fail to meet the high expectations set for them, they experience a double blow – the weight of their failure and the disappointment of letting their families down. Given their impressionable and emotionally vulnerable age, these challenges can become overwhelming. Dr. Zohaib Khan urged parents and society to recognize the dangers of burdening fragile minds unnecessarily.
He emphasized that not everyone is meant to pursue the paths chosen by their parents or valued by society. Academic excellence and intelligence are not always synonymous, despite the common misconception. Dr. Zohaib Khan advised that students should pursue education based on their interests rather than succumbing to various pressures.
In essence, the seminar served as a platform to raise awareness about mental health issues among students and underscored the importance of reducing the societal and familial pressures that often contribute to emotional distress among young people.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2023.
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