IT is disturbing to note that mental health may have become one of Pakistan’s biggest and most overlooked public health crises. Speakers at an event held to observe World Suicide Prevention Day in Islamabad on Tuesday used the occasion to highlight a sharp surge in the country’s suicide rate, which research suggests had jumped from 7.3 (per 100,000 population) in 2019 to 9.8 in 2022. This sudden increase is not something that can be ignored. To this end, the experts who spoke at the event called for a national strategy to address the issue. Other statistics shared at the event were just as alarming. For example, a senior professor reported that the suicide ideation rate is as high as 12pc in rural areas, meaning one in every 10 people living there contemplates ending their life.

The WHO states that the stigma surrounding mental disorders and suicide is a major hurdle in preventing deaths due to self-harm. Many people who may be thinking about taking their own life or who might have attempted to do so often do not seek the help they need because they feel ashamed or apprehensive about the responses they may receive. This is both tragic and harmful, as it means that timely interventions that could save precious lives are often not possible. As a society, Pakistan needs to dismantle the stigma surrounding suicide, improve awareness of why people self-harm, and encourage more compassion towards those who may be struggling with mental health problems. At the same time, access to ethical and properly trained mental health professionals must be made available to all. This seems to be the area where public health authorities can make a direct impact. It is also the one area where most of those suffering from mental health issues are most vulnerable. It is a societal obligation to save lives. We must not continue to fail those who most need our help.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2024