Experts are calling on the government to adopt a comprehensive national mental health strategy to tackle the growing crisis
One in three people in Pakistan suffers from some form of mental disorder, experts revealed during the 26th International Conference on Mental Health in Karachi. The alarming figures highlight a growing mental health crisis driven by social, economic and environmental stressors.
Chairman of the conference, Professor Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, told the scientific committee Express Pakinomist that 34 percent of Pakistan’s population – one in three people – is affected by mental disorders, compared to one in five globally.
He said women are disproportionately affected, mainly due to domestic conflicts and social inequality. “Women in Pakistan are often deprived of the respect and recognition they deserve, leading to elevated levels of depression and anxiety,” he noted.
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Professor Afridi added that the use of narcotics, such as crystal meth (ice) and other addictive substances, promotes an increase in mental health problems among young people. He also pointed to repeated natural disasters – floods and earthquakes, along with terrorism and violence, as major factors causing psychological trauma among people.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Wajid Ali Akhundzada, President of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society, said: “One in four young people and one in five children in Pakistan suffers from some form of mental illness.” He estimated that about 2.5 million people are affected by serious mental disorders, often associated with economic hardship, political instability and disaster-related stress.
He further revealed that 10 percent of Pakistanis are addicted to drugs. He mentioned that around 1,000 people took their own lives last year due to mental illness.
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Experts at the conference warned that the country is facing a serious shortage of mental health professionals. With a population of 240 million, Pakistan has only 90 qualified psychiatrists, while the World Health Organization recommends one psychiatrist per person. 10,000 people. Currently, there is about one psychiatrist for every 550,000 patients, a ratio described as “grossly inadequate.”
Psychiatrist Dr. Afzal Javed and other speakers said Pakistan’s economic instability, unemployment, recurring natural disasters and border tensions have all contributed to widespread psychological distress, especially among the youth. “Young people today feel hopeless and uncertain about their future,” said Dr. Yes.
The experts called on the government to adopt a comprehensive national mental health strategy to address the growing crisis. They also drew attention to environmental degradation, noting that Pakistan’s tree cover stands at only four percent, exacerbating climate change-related anxiety and stress among the population.
