Mental Health First Aid importance underlined

PESHAWAR: A mental health expert has likened Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for the mind, urging people-especially students-to learn these essential skills and train others in communities to better cope with rising psychological challenges.

“Just as CPR can save a life during cardiac arrest-when the heart stops beating or fails to circulate blood to the brain and vital organs-MHFA is equally important for mental health crises,” said Prof Dr Ali Ahsan Mufti, head of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences at Jinnah Medical College, Peshawar. He was speaking at a session titled “The Power of Mental Health First Aid” hosted by the Abasyn University.

Addressing faculty and students, Dr Mufti said not all wounds are visible. “Mental health struggles don’t always show on the outside-there are no bruises or bandages,” he remarked.

“What appears as isolation, anger, or fatigue may actually be anxiety, depression, or trauma. Your empathy could be the first step in someone’s healing journey. This begins with noticing, reaching out, and offering care,” he added.

Dr Mufti, who also serves as Director and Consultant Psychiatrist at Ibadat Hospital, Nishtarabad, and Chapter Chief of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society, stressed that mental health challenges often remain hidden. “Colleagues may be silently suffering. “It’s essential to be observant and offer support-not judgment. A simple act of kindness can be a step toward recovery,” said the doctor who also holds a directorial position at Greenfield Hospital of Psychiatry in Islamabad.

Quoting World Health Organization (WHO) data, Dr Mufti highlighted the alarming frequency of suicide worldwide-one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, which amounts to 1.5 deaths per minute, 90 per hour, and over 800,000 deaths annually. He noted that suicidal behavior is more prevalent among adolescents.

Regarding panic disorders, he cited global statistics showing that 13 to 28 per cent of people experience a panic attack at some point in their lives, with 1.7 to 3.5 per cent affected in any given year.

Touching on anxiety disorders, Dr Mufti referenced WHO surveys that estimate 13 16 per cent of the population suffers from them, though they remain under-diagnosed due to stigma, limited awareness, and inadequate access to mental healthcare.

Explaining the fundamentals of first aid, he referred to the WHO and American Red Cross definitions: “First aid is the immediate and temporary care given to an ill or injured person before professional medical help is available.”