KARACHI: Participants in a programme held to increase public awareness of mental health issues were informed that the Sindh Mental Health Act needed a few weeks to be fully implemented as its rules and regulations had been finalised and were expected to be signed by the competent authority soon.

This was stated by Dr Haroon Ahmed, a key campaigner for the cause while speaking at the programme titled ‘Living with schizophrenia’ organised by the Mental Health Forum — a conglomerate of several non-governmental organisations.

The programme was organised at the Arts Council and comprised of screening of documentaries, one-act play, introduction to relevant literature and motivational speeches.

Dr Ahmed said depression formed five per cent of the mental health problems, but minor depressions ratio was a staggering up to 40pc.

He said mental problems in the country were getting severe because of exacerbating socioeconomic problems.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...
Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.