World Mental Health Day
DLP Report
PESHAWAR
A symposium was organized at Syed Psychiatric Hospital, University Road, Peshawar on the occasion of World Mental Health Day. On the occasion former Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court Muhammad Ibrahim Khan was announced as the ambassador of the Pakistan Psychiatric Association.
Pakistan Psychiatric Association, President Wajid Ali Akhunzada, former President Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Sultan, Professor Dr. Zubair Khan, former Principal Girls Medical College, Professor Dr. Bakht Qamar, former Director Health Services Janbaz Afridi, Dr. Aamir Abbas Qureshi, Dr. Ali Ahsan Mufti and other members of the society were also present in the symposium.
On the occasion, the importance of mental health was highlighted and speakers said that due to unrest, uncertainty, natural disasters, poverty and other issues in the province, mental problems are increasing at an alarming rate and about 34 percent of the country’s population is suffering from depression and anxiety. Similarly 50 percent of the population suffers from various psychological problems because mental disorder is not considered an illness while there are only 600 psychiatrists to treat such patients, which is very less.
Dr. Syed Muhammad Sultan and other psychiatrists said that 10 percent of children under the age of 10 and 20 to 25 percent of youth up to the age of 18 suffer from various types of mental problems in the country and the main reason for that is violence and domestic problems etc. While these diseases are also increasing among the elderly, they said and added that if a person is mentally and physically fit, he/she can perform their duty properly and can deliver.
The government and policy makers need to pay attention to these problems and establish psychiatric centers at every town or tehsil level so that people have easy access to mental health issues.
At the end, shields and certificates were presented to the guests, doctors and other staff.
