ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi urged need for comprehensive strategy to address growing challenge of mental health issues in country. He called for taking collective measures and adopting an integrated approach involving various stakeholders, including relevant ministries, Prime Minister’s Office, NGOs, psychiatric associations and civil society to overcome mental health burden in Pakistan.

Chairing follow-up meeting on mental health at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Secretariat Press Wing said meeting was attended by Chairman of Strategic Reforms Implementation Unit Prime Minister’s Office Hussain Islam and representatives of various organisations working on mental health.

Pakistan Psychological Association, Pakistan Psychiatric Society, National Commission for Human Rights, Taskeen Health Initiative, Pakistani American Psychiatric Association of North America and British Pakistani Psychiatrists Association participated through video link.

President highlighted mental health was major concern, demanding coordinated approach from all involved parties. He said that around 24 percent of country’s population was facing various mental health issues and 60 percent of college and university students were under stress.

He said that this situation needed immediate attention of government, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations and media.

He called for concise and impactful messaging to create awareness about mental health issues by drawing upon lessons learnt from successful campaigns on Covid-19 and breast cancer.

Steps for capacity building of human resources to provide quality counselling and assistance to people and appropriate initiatives should be supported and sustained in future by successive governments.

Meeting discussed formation of committee under Chairman of Strategic Reforms Implementation Unit Prime Minister’s Office to further bolster effectiveness of ‘Humraaz App’ geared towards mental health assistance and awareness.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 08 2023

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