Sindh Mental Health Authority holds multiple events on suicide prevention

In a concerted effort to tackle the growing issue of mental health and suicide prevention, the Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) marked World Suicide Prevention Day with a series of comprehensive mental health initiatives.

Coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Month, the SMHA in collaboration with multiple partners launched nine significant activities to promote mental health awareness and bolster mental health services across the province.

One of the key programmes was held in Tharparkar, where the SMHA teamed up with the Thar Foundation, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS), Sindh health department and Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

It was a six-day training session for healthcare workers. More than 350 participants, including 100 doctors and 250 lady health workers (LHWs) attended the training session that focussed on identifying and managing common psychiatric disorders, with an emphasis on early detection and primary interventions at the community level.

Dr Bharat Kumar, Dr Manisha Kumar and Dr Rizwan Inayat, psychiatrists from Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute, led the training, which covered 10 common psychiatric disorders. The goal was to strengthen the ability of doctors and LHWs to recognise mental health issues early and provide essential care to those affected by them in rural areas.

In addition to clinical training, a research orientation was provided by Dr Abdul Razzaque Nohri who introduced the participants to critical research concepts, stressing the importance of mental health research, particularly in underserved regions like Tharparkar.

“This is a vital step towards both improving healthcare delivery and fostering research that addresses local mental health challenges,” Dr Nohri noted.

Senator Dr Karim Ahmed Khawaja, chairman of the SMHA, hailed the initiative as a significant step to address mental health concerns at the grassroots level.

“We have been working to improve mental health services in Tharparkar through collaborations with key stakeholders like Thar Foundation and LUMHS,” Dr Khawaja said.

He also highlighted that the SMHA had successfully conducted mental health training sessions in 22 of the 30 districts in Sindh, and planned to cover the remaining districts by the end of the year.

The authority also conducted training sessions at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi.

On September 13 and 14, the SMHA partnered with the JPMC psychiatry department, Noor Community Project and Heartland Alliance International to hold a two-day training session on ‘Suicide Risk Assessment and Protocol Development’ for psychologists, psychiatrists and nurses. The training aimed at equipping mental health professionals with the skills necessary to assess and manage suicide risk.

On September 15, the SMHA in partnership with the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), hosted a seminar on suicide prevention at the Piler Centre in Karachi. The event brought together mental health experts, policymakers and others to address the urgent need for comprehensive suicide prevention measures in Pakistan.

Opening the seminar, Dr Khawaja called for policy reforms to ensure access to and funding for mental health services.

Dr Iqbal Afridi, psychiatrist, gave an in-depth presentation on the psychological factors behind suicidal behaviour. He stressed the importance of early intervention and the role that advancements in psychiatric treatment could play in preventing suicides.

His said accessible mental health services and professional support were critical elements in any effective suicide prevention strategy.

With these initiatives, the SMHA aims to build a more resilient mental health system in the province, empowering healthcare professionals to identify and manage mental health issues more effectively and fostering policy reforms to ensure long-term improvements in mental health services.