Prioritising mental health

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day today, Pakistan confronts the reality of its worsening mental care crisis as well as its inadequate support system for those struggling with mental illnesses. Recent reports have revealed that nearly 25 million citizens are living with neurological or psychological disorders in the country, yet only around 400 neurologists are available. This stark disparity exposes a system unable to meet the growing mental health needs of people.

Behind these numbers lie countless untold stories of misunderstood symptoms, misdiagnosed patients and uninformed doctors who victim-blame patients. An uninformed society has only exacerbated the number of students paralysed by anxiety, mothers struggling with postpartum depression and daily wage workers silently enduring emotional strain. In Sindh, one in three individuals faces some form of mental illness, yet only a fraction of them can access treatment.

The problem is not only the lack of psychiatrists and neurologists but the absence of mental health infrastructure at the district and primary care levels. High treatment costs, stigma and insufficient awareness make the situation worse.

If this crisis remains unaddressed, Pakistan risks losing an entire generation to psychological distress, poor productivity and preventable neurological conditions such as strokes - now rising at an alarming rate of 450,000 cases a year. Mental health is not meant to be cared for as a luxury, it is the foundation of a functioning society.

The way forward demands immediate government investment in mental health units within public hospitals, training programmes for general physicians and integration of psychological counselling in schools and workplaces. Community awareness campaigns, especially through digital media, must work to dismantle the stigma around therapy and treatment. Pakistan's collective wellbeing depends on recognising mental health as the public health priority it has always deserved to be.