Nation descending into mental crisis, warn experts

Mental health disorders are on the rise in Pakistan, with increasing rates of suicide driven by factors such as poverty, unemployment, and family breakdowns, senior Pakistani and international mental health experts warned on Thursday.

Speaking at a World Mental Health Day seminar at the Karachi Press Club (KPC), University of Toronto's senior psychiatrist and professor Dr Farooq Naeem warned that Pakistan is facing a looming mental health crisis, as psychiatric and personality disorders affect vast segments of the population.

"The first and most pressing issue in Pakistan is suicide prevention," said Dr Naeem, explaining that suicides are often linked to emotional instability, anger issues, and the inability to cope with small, everyday problems that feel insurmountable.

He noted that poverty, job insecurity, and the disintegration of traditional family structures, alongside excessive use of social media, contribute to the mental health decline.

Dr Naeem further cautioned that mental health disorders are rarely discussed openly in Pakistan, exacerbating the problem.