MM News

World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10 every year to boost involvement in the issues of mental health, encouraging world mental health education and advocacy against the social stigma that is often linked with it.

This year, to shed light on the alarming rise in mental disorders, the international awareness day will be focusing on “Mental Health for All” and increased investment in mental health.

Causes of mental disorder

Due to rising poverty, lack of safety and education, an increase in the number of mentally disturbed patients has been witnessed. Mental health also affects our approach, way of thinking and social behavior.

The mind is the most essential part of the human body and therefore, it is all the more important to keep it healthy. Healthy human beings can play an active role in the overall wellbeing of society.

History

World Mental Health Day was celebrated for the first time on 10 October 1992 at the initiative of Deputy Secretary-General Richard Hunter. Up until 1994, the day had no specific theme other than general promoting mental health advocacy and educating the public.

In 1994, World Mental Health Day was celebrated with a theme for the first time at the suggestion of the Secretary-General Eugene Brody. The theme was “Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World.”

World Mental Health Day is supported by the World Health Organization through raising awareness on mental health issues using its strong relationships with the Ministries of health and civil society organizations across the world.

Most neglected areas of public health

Mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health. Close to one billion people are living with a mental disorder, three million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide due to the issue.

This year, billions of people around the globe have been affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, which is having a further impact on people’s mental health.

Mental health crisis looming

We all know this year has been a tough one, particularly for people living with mental illness and their carers.

The theCOVID-19 epidemic risks sparking a major global mental health crisis, earlier the United Nations warned, calling for urgent action to address the psychological suffering brought on by the plague.

According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the psychological impact on vast numbers of people who have lost or are at risk of losing their livelihoods, have been separated from loved ones or have suffered under drastic lockdown orders.

Health care workers and first responders — operating under “tremendous stress” — are particularly vulnerable, Devora Kestel, head of the World Health Organisation’s mental health said.

A whole host of other groups also face particular psychological challenges brought on by the crisis. Children being kept out of school, for instance, face uncertainty and anxiety.

Along with women, they also face a heightened risk of domestic abuse as people spend lengthy amounts of time cooped up at home.

The elderly and people with pre-existing conditions, who are considered particularly at risk from the virus, meanwhile face increased stress over the threat of infection.

And people with pre-existing psychological issues could see them exacerbated, while accessing their usual treatment and face-to-face therapy may no longer be possible.

The UN authorities stressed the need for countries to include access to psychosocial support and emergency mental care in all aspects of their response to the pandemic.

Suicide and psychiatric disorder

Suicide is the 15th leading reason for death internationally and around 11.4 people per 100,000 populations kill themselves every year. Moreover, depression is the most common psychiatric disorder among people who die from suicide.

In Pakistan suicide was a major public health issue even though the rate was below that of the worldwide. In Pakistan, it is 1.5 per 100,000 persons.

This is due to our culture as suicide is prohibited in Islam, social stigma and legal issues being a criminal offense.

Furthermore, national rates of suicide are not compiled and there is underreporting. The suicide ratio in males is 2:1 and mostly by singles.

Other reasons behind suicide in Pakistan included unemployment, poverty, homelessness, family issues, depression and social pressures.

Health care system in Pakistan

The mental health care system’s response in Pakistan is not compatible with the growing mental illness.

It is under-resourced in terms of trained professionals, patients care at the level of other models of community psychiatry, meager financial resources and mostly limited to the cities in spite of the fact that the majority of the population resides in the country side.

There is a small number of mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers to provide mental health treatment and the number of psychiatric beds is smaller compared to the population.

Professional organisations (non-governmental) working for the promotion of mental health in Pakistan have been evolved in the past few decades, but the pace is not compatible with the rapid changes in the mental health situation in Pakistan.

Needs a collaborative strategy

The mental health situation in Pakistan is a serious issue and the majority of people do not receive psychiatric treatment and suffer from stigma and discrimination.

The issues in adults might be as common as in child and adolescent populations but are under-reported due to social stigma.

In addition, there is a serious addiction problem where four million addicts have been estimated in the last national survey with a growing number of injectable drug users in the urban population creating public health predicament.

Addressing mental health problems remains a low priority at the policy level and needs a collaborative strategy from policymakers, professional bodies for mental health, academics and professionals working in the mental health field.

So it is pertinent to review the existing mental health treatment policy and to work for a collaborative national mental health strategy, to bring changes in the current infrastructure in terms of treatment approach, and easy excess to the psychiatric facilities, public-private partnership, professional and training.