Like other parts of the globe, "World Mental Health Day-2012" is being observed here on Wednesday (today) in a bid to sensitise the people about mental health issues by encouraging more open discussion about mental disorders and investments in prevention and treatment services.
With the theme-"Depression A Global Crisis"-Pakistan is observing this day with no mental health policy for adolescents and children, as around half of population under 18 (45 million) are deprived of trained child and adolescent psychiatrists in the public sector.
Sharing their views on this year's theme, mental health professionals told Business Recorder that depression is a common mental disorder, characterised by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration. According to them, depression can be long-lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing an individual's ability to function at work or school or cope with daily life. At its most severe, depression can lead to suicide. When mild, people can be treated without medicines but when depression is moderate or severe they may need medication and professional talking treatments.
It may be noted that mental disorders affect nearly 12 percent of the world's population - about 450 million or one out of every four people around the world will experience a mental illness that will benefit from diagnosis and treatment. World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that 154 million people globally suffer from depression that is a form of mental illness.
According to WHO, mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which people realise their own potential, to cope with normal life stresses; to work productively and contribute to their community. Mental health professionals said that mental health problems are increasing in Pakistan due to financial crisis and other social issues. Those who preferred death to life are suffering from serious depression and anxiety. About 20 percent of Pakistanis suffer from various mental health problems, but the government devised no strategy to tackle them.
Leading psychiatrist Professor Dr Rizwan Taj criticised the pharmacies which openly sell sleeping pills without asking for a doctor's prescription. He also noted that there is a false belief in our society that marriage is the best option to treat a person suffering from mental illness. He added that the government is more focused on communicable diseases and is ignoring the fact that mental health impairs one's life and productivity.
Dr Taj held the population explosion, overcrowding, unemployment, prolonged insecurity, and multiple traumatic experiences responsible for the rising incidence of mental illness. Moreover, the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) Lahore has arranged a 2-day World Mental Health Day 2012 celebrations.
On Tuesday, a seminar was held for raising awareness of mental Health; speakers highlighted different aspects of mental health issues. Dr Asir Ajmal presented paper on "Deconstruction of Depression" while Dr Rizvi presented article on "General Sadness/Clinical Depression".
On October 10, 2012, at 09:00am, a walk will be held. Khawaja Salman Rafique, Special Assistant to CM on Health will be Chief Guest and Noor-ul-Ameen Mengal, DCO Lahore, will be Special Guest. There will be events like Essay, Poster and Skits competition and Exhibition for University and College students. Mushaira and Play will be held at 05:00pm.