Experts alarmed by surge in mental health disorders, suicide rate in Pakistan

KARACHI: Experts have expressed serious concern over the rising mental health disorders and suicide rate in Pakistan, mostly linked to poverty, unemployment, and the breakdown of family structures.
They were speaking at a seminar held at the Karachi Press Club to mark World Mental Health Day, organised by the Pakistan Psychiatric Society (PPS) in collaboration with Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) and pharmaceutical company Pharmevo, to raise awareness about the growing mental health challenges in the country.
Addressing the seminar, Dr Farooq Naeem, a senior psychiatrist and professor at the University of Toronto, highlighted an escalating mental health crisis in the country, saying that a substantial portion of the population is affected by psychiatric and personality disorders.
"The most urgent issue facing Pakistan is suicide prevention," said Dr Naeem. He explained that suicides often stem from emotional instability, anger, and difficulties in coping with daily challenges, while factors such as poverty, job insecurity, the erosion of traditional family bonds, and excessive social media use contribute to the problem.
Dr Naeem also pointed out that the stigma surrounding mental health in Pakistan aggravates the situation, estimating that one-third of the population suffers from psychiatric disorders, with nearly a half of it experiencing personality disorders. 
"We can no longer afford to ignore this crisis," he urged, calling for immediate action to increase awareness and provide treatment, especially for conditions such as schizophrenia.
Citing research, he noted that cognitive therapy could potentially reduce suicide rates by up to 30pc, stressing the need for both medical and psychological interventions to address the growing mental health epidemic.
Supporting Dr Naeem's concerns, Dr Iqbal Afridi, former president of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society (PPS), disclosed that 35pc of the population grapples with mental health issues. 
"When such a significant segment of society is affected, the impact extends to the economy and the overall well-being of the nation," he said. 
Dr Afridi advocated for healthier lifestyle choices, including regular sleep and a balanced diet, to enhance mental health, particularly among media professionals with irregular schedules.
Dr Abdul Karim Khawaja, Chairman of the Sindh Mental Health Authority, highlighted the country's limited mental health infrastructure, noting that Sindh has only 140 psychiatrists, while 20 districts lack psychiatric services altogether. 
"We are currently training doctors in 22 districts and aim to expand services to the remaining areas soon," he said, adding that research is underway to examine higher suicide rates in the province's desert regions.
Dr Chunni Lal, head of psychiatry at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, drew attention to the often overlooked mental health struggles of homemakers, emphasizing that globally, 60pc of people experience some form of psychological distress. 
He suggested that including homemakers in these statistics would likely raise the numbers even higher.