KARACHI: The president of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society on Sunday organised a wellness and promotional camp of mental health at Karachi Zoo.

Former test cricketer Younis Khan was the special guest at the event while the chief guest was Prof Ahmed Ali Khan of Brain Trust United Kingdom, representative of the Imperial College and life member of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Prof Muhammad Iqbal Afridi and guest of honour Senator Karim Khwaja, chairman, Sindh Mental Health Autho­rity, presided over the proceedings.

The organisers said the event was in accordance with President Arif Alvi’s mental health initiative for women and young people that also covered their wellness.

The speakers said the nature was a great contributor to good mental health.

Prof Afridi said that taking mental health beyond the hospital premises to the middle of masses would help reduce the alarmingly increasing stigma of mental health.

‘Awareness of mental health in public will help prevent people from rampant suicidal tendencies’

“Awareness of mental health in public will benefit and reduce harm to the general behaviour of society and prevent people from rampant suicidal tendencies,” said Dr Afridi.

Younis Khan stressed the need for physical exercise and taking part in sports. He said exercise and sports help improve mental health.

People from different walks of life attended a medical camp at the zoo.

The director of the zoological gardens, Qamar Ayub, appreciated the initiative and agreed with the organisers to support the cause in future in all respects that included allocating land for health and mental health activities in the future.

Doctors specialising in various fields participated in the event.

They included Dr Bahram Khoso, Dr Zubair Khoso, Dr Saima Ghous and Dr Ajay Kumar.

Those who organised and participated in the event included Dr Ali, Dr Amna Asad, Dr Fariha, Dr Ali Rajper, Dr Ali Imran and Zafar Ahmed.

Prof Iqbal Afridi said improving the thought process, emotions and behaviour and healthy lifestyle, which included good sleep, diet, exercise, work, etc, in addition to developing healthy communication in relationships would improve people’s levels of productivity and job satisfaction and lead to socioeconomic development at all levels.

He donated some 300 plants to the zoo authorities.

The organisers said that the event was the first of a series of events that would be held in various neighbourhoods of the teeming metropolis. Besides, similar events would also be held in other cities and towns.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2019