With the theme "Psychological First Aid," the 'World Mental Health Day-2016' was marked here on Monday like other parts of the globe, with a firm resolve to make the people aware of the prevalence of mental disorders and their impact on national productivity, creativity, entrepreneurship and personal development.
To mark the day, different health organisations including Fountain House Lahore organised special events in which mental health professionals highlighted that there is surge in the incidence of mental disorders, particularly stress and depression, in the country. They cited the issues of personal insecurity, poverty, lack of education, rising inflation and injustice as major reasons for significantly high stress level in Pakistani society.
In Pakistan, there were only four mental health hospitals in Hyderabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Mansehra with a total capacity of about 3,000 beds, while small psychiatric units were attached to teaching hospitals and private psychiatric hospitals had a capacity of about 4,000 beds for patients reporting with mental disorders. Experts said Pakistan is struggling with taboos and misconceptions related to mental health. While epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and depression are the major contributors of mental health issues, there is a strong need on both government and public level to seriously remove stigmas related to the burden of these diseases, they asserted.