KARACHI: Increase in literacy for better mental health stressed
KARACHI, Nov 10: Healthcare experts citing Pakistanis to be increasingly exposed to psychological warfare have called for concerted efforts to enhance public perception towards issues not common but directly linked to the masses.
They were addressing a symposium on “Mental Health in the Current Scenario”, held under the aegis of the Hamdard Medical University on Saturday evening.
The president of the Pakistan Medical Association, Prof Tipu Sultan; a senior psychiatrist formerly associated with the King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Prof Khalida Tareen; Jinnah Medical and Dental College’s Prof Iqbal Athar Khan and Hamdard Medical University’s Prof Amin Gadet, unanimously recommended the need for not only enhancing the literacy rate, but also to improve the quality of education, enabling the masses to efficiently buffer attempts to create panic and chaos in their ranks.
Prof Tipu Sultan, in this context, specifically referred to the most-talked about issue of “anthrax” which, he said, was particularly insignificant under Pakistan’s extremely humid weather conditions, like many other Asian countries. Yet, Pakistanis were made to suffer though chaos, which was simply meant to divert the attention of American and European population from the Afghan imbroglio.
Both print and electronic media was also urged to realize its responsibility in this regard as the environment of fear, often created through this very medium, was playing havoc with public health. A code of ethics for sources catering to the entertainment needs of the public through feature films and even cartoons were also registered to be contributing to growing levels of violence in society.
Dr Khalida Tareen, referring to the surge in the incidence rate of depression among locals, said that attempts made to create an environment of haplessness in society, generally through rumours, need to be efficiently checked.
Elucidating her point of view over the critical issue, Prof Khalida Tareen said that all kinds of terrorism, including economic, political and emotional, are affecting our population as the national scenario clearly manifests that a majority of the population, including our rulers, despite disliking for many things, have opted for the same which is affecting their psyche.
She claimed that economic scenario presents a gloomy picture as more than 50 per cent of the population is under the poverty line and its rising level has impaired the mental state of health.
But the social scenario is also to be blamed for the current impasse in society, as trampling over the rights of others has aggravated the situation beyond frustration level, she added.
According to her, growing despondency among the masses is a major cause of anarchy in society, as most of the people are of the firm view that their plight despite relentless hard work would remain unchanged.
Describing the current air strikes on Afghanistan claiming a number of precious and innocent lives as a major catastrophe for the mental health of those who are watching mutilated bodies of children, women and the old, she said that the grim situation has become a major source of collective depression.
Post-traumatic disorders, a state of vacuum, general disinterest in life, anxiety and a kind helplessness has ingrained in the psyche of such people, as most of the patients are reporting to their psychiatrists about these issues,” she pointed out.
Dr Khalida said that to overcome the grim situation, improve mental health of the nation and help it extricate out of the present crisis, every individual would have to play his/her due role, otherwise the situation would decline from bad to worse.
Prof Amin seconded the senior psychiatrist and referring to a recent interview of a former chief of the US intelligence service who cited a bid to affect the mental health status of any nation through chaos, violence and projection of quite absurd notions as the most potent tool to create restlessness in the country.
The speakers called upon locals to adopt a pragmatic approach while responding to any information, ensuring that the knowledge is empirical, that is, which can be tested. They also said that the government has yet to realize its responsibility in this regard and keep people well-informed.
The need to adopt an optimistic approach towards life was also suggested along with a tendency to express one’s gratitude to Allah Almighty for his blessings.
Pakistanis were also advised to be humble and modest towards each other, besides making efforts to contribute and pay back to society for the success and achievements they acquire. —APP/PPI
