ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has called for joint efforts by stakeholders, including the federal and provincial governments, community and health professionals to work for the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders.

He said it was a matter of serious concern that 24pc of the country’s population was suffering from mental health-related issues whereas only 500-600 mental health professionals were available to cater to the needs of this population. He emphasised the need for increasing the number of mental health professionals besides strengthening the capacity of general health professionals by training them to address the challenge of rising mental health disorders.

According to a statement, the president expressed these views while chairing a meeting on mental health through the video link.

Pakistani American Psychiatric Association of North America President Dr Mohammad Zeeshan, representatives of the National Commission of Human Rights, World Health Organisation, Pakistan Psychological Association, Pakistan Psychiatric Society, Taskeen Health Initiative and Ministry of National Health Services attended the meeting.

Professor and chair of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, Prof Dr M. Waqar Azeem, Professor of Psychiatry and Programme Director at the University of Nevada Dr Mujeeb Shahd, Executive Vice Chair and Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Prof Dr Asim Shah, Director Muslim Mental Health Consortium Prof Dr Farah Abbasi, Child Fellowship Director at the Harvard Medical School Dr Zheala Qayyum and Programme Director Residency and Addiction Fellowship at the University of Missouri School of Medicine Dr Nauman Ashraf attended the meeting virtually.

The participants gave suggestions to cope with the challenge of mental issues. The meeting emphasised the need for raising awareness about the diseases, educating people about mental health, eliminating the stigma attached to it and providing quality counselling and treatment to mental health patients.

They also called for the capacity building and training of health professionals in Pakistan, adding a central coordinating mechanism among various stakeholders was also essential to avoid duplication of efforts.

The meeting also underscored the need for developing a national autism plan.

Prof Dr Rizwan Taj from Pims informed the meeting that the Ministry of National Health Services had established an autism centre at Pims, adding it would be a role model for provinces and other hospitals to follow.

The president appreciated the role of overseas Pakistani medical professionals for supporting the initiative on mental health.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2023