KARACHI: Seminar told Mental disorders on the rise
KARACHI, Oct 3: Some 10 per cent of country’s population is suffering from either kind of psychology-related disorders and there are apprehensions that by the year 2020, depression would be rated as the second major cause of death after heart diseases.
This was stated by experts at a seminar on “mental health and the media” jointly organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation and JPMC’s department of psychiatry.
The concept of mental illness in Pakistan has not fully developed and a majority of people are unable to comprehend the true nature of illness specially in terms of causation and treatment approaches.
Ironically general practitioners knowledge and skills are inadequate in managing mental illness as increasing level of violence, coupled with economic problems and host of other factors, may be attributed as major cause for the rising incidence of mental disorders in the country, they said.
The world mental health day will be observed on Oct 10 globally which is also general election day in Pakistan. It is observed amid high hopes and expectations that media would play a crucial role in creating awareness among masses against critical level of psychological disorders which has assumed critical dimension in the country during the last decades with the objective that corrective measures may be mounted against them.
Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Health Minister Ahsan Ahmad underscored the need for formulation of a national media strategy which should indicate how to cope with increasing suicides and mental ailments in the country.
He said that the common practice of marriage to Quran in Sindh with the motive of keeping land within the family is not only limited to the province but other parts of the country also.
“Similarly centuries-old custom of Karo-Kari which according to a general belief is rampant in Sindh is not entirely true as many incidents of same nature can also be cited in other provinces of the country”
Suicides inside homes should not be highlighted in a negative manner by the media as it leaves a bad impression on readers, he said.
“During last few year suicide rate in Pakistan has gone up alarmingly and it is incumbent upon all of us to critically analyse the causes”.
“Earlier, it was perceived that Japan stood among few countries where suicide ratio is on the higher side. In Pakistan it was uncommon, but unfortunately it was going up”.
Dr. Musarrat Hussain, Head of Psychiatry Department, JPMC, speaking on “stress management techniques” said feature of stigma related with mental health issues results in reducing patients’ access to resources and housing and job opportunities besides leading to low self-esteem isolation and hopelessness.
He said that childhood indicators of the problem are reflected in the form of physical problems, intellectual disabilities, low birth weight, multi-generational poverty and disruptive behaviours.
Dr. Amin Gadit of the Hamdard University in his presentation on “stigma related to mental illness” said there was a shortage of qualified psychiatrists in the country.
Moreover, he said, there was a general reluctance towards seeking psychiatric help owing to the stigma, high cost, lengthy duration and side-effects of western treatment.
He said there is an important category of healers who by definition are those who claim to be in direct contact with the spiritual world and who assume the responsibility of bringing cure through their spiritual connections.
A large number of people have faith in the healing powers of such practitioners and hence shrines and other holy places are flocked by the masses irrespective of educational or ethnic background seeking cure specially for mental illness.
Dr. Unaiza Niaz speaking on “Women’s mental health” said cases of mental disorders among women in Pakistan are two to three times more as compared to males.
She said early marriages and hostile laws are major factors which give rise to tendency of suicides and homicides among womenfolk in the country which according to her were 55 and 67 per cent, respectively.
“Similarly preferential treatment towards males and parents and society, disproportionate responsibilities and education opportunities, matrimonial dilemmas, poor social freedom and mobility, no say in pregnancy and birth control, home and work conflict pressure and harassment, abuse and identity esteem issues are some of the major causes of mental disorders, depression, anxiety and rising incidents of suicides among women”.
She lamented the attitude of society towards divorced women which, she said, was very humiliating and disgraceful.
Prof. Qazi Abdul Shakoor, Director JPMC, said mental health was directly proportional to physical health as sound mind and body are a prerequisite for performance of normal activities.
For a good mental health, it is necessary to avoid speaking lie and there was a need to educate children to always speak truth, he said.
Others who also spoke included Dr. Irshad Qazi, Dr. Zarin Siddiqui, Humair Ishtiaq, and Dr. Ghaus Mohammad.—PPI
