SUKKUR, April 20: More than 850 psychiatric patients were provided free consultation and medicines during a free neuropsychiatry camp held here on Tuesday. Eight consultant psychiatrists from Karachi attended the camp which is said to be the biggest ever of its kind held in the city. Earlier, a symposium on mental health was held.

The Pakistan Association for Mental Health in collaboration with the Haroon Centre for Neuropsychiatry and Merck Marker Pakistan organized the symposium.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kartar Pamnani informed the participants about the situation of mental disorders in Sukkur and adjoining areas.

Dr Munir Humairani said about five to 10 per cent population was suffering from masked depression in which people come to doctors with complaints of physical pain, headache, general weakness, but never talk about psychological symptoms of depression.

He said they actually were suffering from depression and need treatment of the same.

Dr Naeem Siddiqui of the Aga Khan University Hospital spoke about the role of mental illness and creating physical illness.

He said people with stress and depression were more prone to heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.