Perinatal depression cause of suicide among women of childbearing age in Pakistan: psychiatrists

ISLAMABAD: Of the 6 million women who give birth annually in Pakistan, around 30 percent suffer from ‘perinatal depression,’ and about 20 percent of these women experience suicidal thoughts or attempts at self-harm, national and international psychiatrists said on Tuesday.

They mentioned that ‘a sizeable number of women’ experiencing perinatal depression succeed in ending their lives by committing suicide. Despite hundreds of thousands of women suffering from mental health issues during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth, only about 10 percent have access to necessary support and treatment.

“Perinatal mental health refers to the emotional and psychological well-being of women during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. This period includes the prenatal (before birth) and postnatal (after birth) phases. It is estimated that around 30 percent of the over 6 million Pakistani women suffer from perinatal depression, and of these, around 20 percent have suicidal thoughts,” said Prof. Atif Rahman, a renowned psychiatrist from the UK.

Speaking to The News after a one-day moot on “Perinatal Mental Health – Challenges and Opportunities” at Health Services Academy (HSA) Islamabad, Prof. Rahman noted that perinatal depression is a leading cause of suicide among women of childbearing age but lamented the lack of concrete data on suicides during the perinatal period in Pakistan, as many suicides go unreported.

“We are now using digital technology to train Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and women across Pakistan to identify the signs and symptoms of perinatal depression and provide psychosocial support and treatment to those facing mental health issues during the perinatal period,” he added. Vice Chancellor HSA Prof. Shahzad Ali Khan called for ‘opportunistic screening for mental health’ at all health facilities across Pakistan to better understand the extent of mental health issues. Opportunistic screening involves assessing an individual’s mental health during routine or unrelated healthcare visits to identify and address potential issues.

Prof. Khan emphasized that many individuals with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic non-communicable diseases in Pakistan are also suffering from mental health issues, but these are often undiagnosed. “We suggest that all Out-Patient Departments and clinical facilities in both the public and private sectors should be trained to diagnose mental health issues early and refer patients to psychiatrists,” he said, adding that mental health is the biggest health crisis currently facing Pakistan.

HSA has established Pakistan’s first public mental health department, where both psychologists and psychiatrists are training healthcare providers and managers on public mental health issues and how to address them.

Dr. Siham Sikandar, who has been leading a 12-year study on women’s mental health in Pakistan, reported that around 15-18 percent of deaths among women of childbearing age occur due to depression, hopelessness, economic pressures, marital issues, and other factors. However, there is currently no data available on the specific number of women committing suicide.

The event also featured contributions from Prof. Dr. Abid Ali Malik, Head of Public Mental Health at HSA, experts from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Luo Dapeng, as well as Dr. Mariyam Sarfraz, Director of Programmes at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination.