Karachi: A delegation from Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL) and University of Manchester met with Dr. Azra Fazal Pehchuho, Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare, and Dr. Juman Bahoto, Director General, Health Department, Government of Sindh, last week and discussed Mental Health Policy and its Implementation Plan.
The visiting delegation included Professor Nusrat Husain, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Director Research & Innovation, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Professor Nasim Chaudhry, CEO PILL, Professor Imran Bashir Chaudhry, Professor and Chairman Department of Psychiatry at Ziauddin Hospital and Honorary Professor of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Prof Moin Ansari, Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences. Professor Zainab Zadeh, COO, PILL, Mr. Ameer Bux, Assistant Director Research Development & Dissemination PILL, Mr. Faisal Aly, Associate Director Digital Remedial, and Bilal Arif, Joint Lead Forensic Mental Health PILL. Dr Kinza Khan, CEO Umang Pakistan were also present during the meeting.
The delegation informed the minister and others that most serious complication of mental health difficulties is death by suicide. Globally every 40 second one person dies by suicide and marked as a 4th leading cause of death among adolescents. Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide with 80% disease burden in low and middle-income countries (LMIC).
Pakistan has one of the highest rates of depression including postnatal depression and little access to treatment. Trauma and adverse childhood experiences have a strong association with mental health difficulties. Climate change is having a major impact on Pakistan and called as “Invisible injustice”. Recently around 33 million people, including approximately 16 million children, have been affected by this year’s heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan.
