Mental wellbeing: Number of mental health patients on the rise, says experts

Poverty, family issues, insecurity regarded as major factors.

ISLAMABAD:

According to medical experts, about 15-20 per cent of people are suffering from various forms of mental health and related problems, with females being in a higher ration than males.

Talking to The Express Tribune in connection with World Mental Health Day, held annually on October 10, the experts expressed concern over the increase in the number of people being diagnosed with mental disorders, listing stress, anxiety, mood disorders and depression as the major diagnoses. They attributed poverty, maternal issues, insecurity and terrorism as the contributing factors.

(Read: Mental and psychological disorders - The silent killer that goes unnoticed)

Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) Institute of Psychiatry’s Registrar Dr Shahid Ali stressed the importance of creating psychiatric institutions in light of the increasing number of mental health patients in the city. “Currently there is only one such department in the city, based in BBH, whereas both Holy Family Hospital and District Headquarter Hospital lack this facility,” he said. He added that the number of patients visiting the outpatient department has increased from 160 to 200 daily, majority of which are women between the ages of 18 and 30.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Psychiatry Department Head Dr Rizwan Taj said that in light of the increase in the number of mental health patients, people must aggressively change their lifestyle. “Mental health problems are affecting both the poor and elite, therefore indulging in activities like exercise, surrounding oneself by happy people, reading book and keeping away from activities that induce anxiety, is instrumental,” he said. Like BBH, the majority of mental health patients are allegedly women aged between 20 and 35 years.

(Read: From shrines to the couch: Psychiatrists discuss how to deal with patients)

Rabia Khan, a clinical psychologist at Aga Khan Family Health Care Unit added that many young people suffer from mental health issues thinking suicide is the only way out.

Currently anxiety and depression are commonly found among female hostelites who are either from far-flung cities or castaways from their in-laws. In males, on the other hand, shifting from rural areas to urban cities causes financial strains which in turn impact their mental states. “For them, committing suicide means finishing their life just to lower the burden on their families,” Khan stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2011.