LAHORE, Oct 5: Experts and activists will reiterate their belief on the World Mental Health Day that the world will be a better place if people with psychological disorders are understood and helped out like the ones with physical ailments.

Celebrated on Oct 10, the day is an international educational campaign which aims to extend knowledge on mental health to unaware people. For the first time in 1992, it was observed by the World Federation for Mental Health as an annual activity. The theme of this year is “Making mental health a global priority: scaling up services through citizens advocacy and action”. The primary emphasis would be on social and psychological aspects and awareness about the mental health and its inclusion into the primary healthcare system.

In Lahore, a walk, a public awareness seminar and a play will be arranged at the Punjab Institute of Mental Health in this regard. Mental health experts, physicians, human rights and civil society activists besides a number of rehabilitated patients will participate in the walk.

University of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mubashar H. Malik will be the keynote speaker at a public awareness seminar while columnist Munnoo Bhai, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s I.A. Rahman, National Commission on Status of Women chairperson Dr Arifa Syeda, Punjab Health Secretary Anwar A. Khan, PIMH Executive Director Dr Nusrat Habib Rana and Dr Javed Shah also will spoke.

Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah will be the chief guest and Chief Minster’s Media Adviser Pervaiz Rashid a guest of honour at the seminar.

An exhibition of paintings and other products made by the Female Rehabilitation Project members would follow the seminar.

A play titled “Campaign against stigma” would be staged followed by a musical programme at the PIMH on Oct 12.