Every fourth Pakistani suffers from psychiatric diseases

LAHORE

Pakistan is spending only two percent of the health budget on psychiatric ailments that is insufficient to deal with the burden of mental illnesses rapidly growing due to social issues such as population explosion, unemployment, energy crisis, terrorism, etc.

“Every fourth Pakistani is having mental problem as psychiatric disorders have soared in Pakistan especially during the last 10 years,” said leading psychiatrists while speaking at a seminar on “Growing psychological and mental illnesses in Pakistan – causes and solution” organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society (Jang Group of Newspapers) in collaboration with Eli Lilly Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, here at a local hotel.

Prof Dr Raza-ur-Rehman, Professor and Chairman Psychiatry Dow University of Medical Sciences, said that body and brain are concomitant; therefore, mental health ensures quality life. “The individuals suffering from depression are unable to perform simplest of tasks,” he added.

He said that, according to the World Bank report of 1993, 10.5 percent people are suffering from mental diseases and predicted that the ratio of mentally handicapped persons would rise up to 15 percent by 2020. He said 450 million people are suffering from mental problems and one person is committing suicide in every four seconds, and half of them are below 45 years of age.

He said that stress and anxiety also caused heart diseases, ulcer, flu and even cancer. He mentioned critical shortage of practicing psychiatrists or psychologists in comparison with the growing problem of lunacy in Pakistan.

Prof Dr Nasir Saeed Khan, Head of Psychiatry Services Institute of Medical Sciences and President Pakistan Psychiatry Society, said that stress caused psychiatric problems; therefore, people must visit psychiatrist to get rid of mental disorders at an early stage. “The mental illnesses cause physical problems,” he said, adding that there was a need to create awareness for prevention of mental problems among the public. He said medicines are very advanced and useful nowadays, which help to treat psychiatric patients effectively, whereas electric shocks are only given when the disease becomes out of control, he added. He said Pakistan’s population had been increasing at a rapid pace, which is contributing to mental disorders among the masses. In this context, he said, Pakistan was spending merely two percent of the total health budget, while in Turkey, a hefty amount equivalent to Rs6 billion was being spent on health in each of its provinces. 

Prof Dr Imran Ijaz Haider, Head of Psychiatry department of Fatima Memorial Hospital, said tendency of replicating western lifestyle was also contributing to mental problems in Pakistan. Besides, he said, domestic problems and bitterness in relationships were also multiplying the burden of psychiatric problems among the public in the country. “The working spouses are also adversely affecting the right kind of upbringing of the children,” he said, adding that nagging couples badly affect the mental health of the children.

He pointed out that growing distance from our religious teachings was also causing mental problems like stress, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, etc. “The distance from our religion is leading the young astray, who are falling prey to various social evils such as drugs,” he added.

Prof Dr Shehryar Jovinda, Consultant Psychiatrist, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, said that psychological issues among children were also a major cause of concern in Pakistan. “The burden of studies is more on our children than among the kids in the western countries, which is badly affecting their mental and physical abilities,” he added. 

In Pakistan, he said, the parents want their children to become doctors or engineers, whereas in Europe and western countries, parents want their children to capitalise on their talent and abilities to excel in the field of their choice. “The domestic bickering is also causing mental disintegration among the children,” he said, adding that there was critical shortage of child psychiatrists in Pakistan. Shaista Jabeen, clinical psychologist, emphasised the need to create awareness among the public and especially spread the message of prevention from mental illnesses among students in colleges and universities in the country. She also advised the people to use their five senses consciously, which helped in keeping the depression away. Atiya Batool, Brand Manager Eli Lilly Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, said that the company had been serving in health sector for the past 140 years, saying that it had served in combating diseases, including diabetes, cancer, psychological disorders among the public. Chairman MKRMS Wasif Nagi conducted the seminar.