Government-run mental health facility inaugurated

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan has inaugurated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government-run Institute of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences which is first of its kind in the province.

Apart from providing quality treatment facilities to mentally-ill people, the institute will also offer a comprehensive professional development and academic programs including diplomas and degrees in bachelor, masters and doctorate to all cadres of health providers involved in providing mental health services, said a handout.

Besides an emergency unit, Out-Patient Department, Intensive Care Unit, Psychiatric Unit, Family Counseling, Rehabilitation Centre and other related specialties would be available at the institute.The OPD services have been started initially whereas the rest of the aforementioned services would be started in phased manners.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the caretaker chief minister said establishment of such an institute was direly needed.“People grappling with mental health challenges will have the state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in the newly established institute,” he said.

Azam Khan said a separate board would be constituted to run the institute in an autonomous and effective manner.

He hoped the institute would also play a key role in legislation and policy- making related to mental health as well as develop international linkages for clinical services, research and international accreditation.

The chief minister said mental illnesses were on the rise at the global level, and Pakistan especially faced the challenge when it comes to mental health. “That is why setting up this institute in Peshawar is a good initiative and gift for the people suffering from mental illness.

He called for a change in the prevailing social attitudes towards these patients and added that unfortunately, the topic of mental health was still a taboo in Pakistan which is giving rise to the number of individuals with undiagnosed mental disorders.

Azam Khan such people should be treated and facilitated keeping in view their self-esteem so that they could be respected as relatives, neighbours, friends, workers and members of society.

Advisor to Chief Minister for Health Dr Riaz Anwar, Director General of Health Dr Shaukat Ali and others also addressed the ceremony and highlighted the salient features of the institute.Senior mental health experts, including Professor Dr Khalid Mufti, Prof Dr Bashir Ahmad and others were present on the occasion.