PESHAWAR: The Khyber Medical University (KMU) in collaboration with the University of York, UK, has launched a mental health study project titled “developing and evaluating an adapted behavioural activation intervention for people with depression and diabetes in South Asia” worth about Rs636.46 million.

This multi-country, multi-centre research project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research, UK. Other partner organisations include University of Southampton UK, University College London UK, Hull York Medical School UK, Institute of Psychiatry Rawalpindi, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Hayatabad Medical Complex Hospital Peshawar, Tees, Esk & Wear Valley NHS Trust UK, University of Leeds UK and Ark Foundation, Bangladesh.

“There is no health without mental health” is the main theme of the project. This collaboration aims to develop and test a culturally appropriate approach to the recognition and treatment of depression in people with diabetes in Pakistan and Bangladesh based on behavioural activation.

Core team of the project consists of chief investigator Dr Najma Siddiqui UK, principal investigator Prof Dr Ziaul Haq and co-principal investigators Prof Dr A.H. Amir and Dr Saima Afaq.

Launching ceremony of the project was held here at the KMU hall where KP secretary health Imtiaz Ali Shah was the chief guest and founder vice-chancellor of KMU Prof Dr Mohammad Daud Khan guest of honour.

Besides others, KMU VC Prof Ziaul Haq, registrar Prof Dr Mohammad Saleem Gandapur, Psychiatric Association president Prof Dr Mukhtarul Haq and Prof A.H. Amir were also present on the occasion.

Speaking at the ceremony, health experts said that health care systems in low- and middle-income countries faced the growth of mental and physical multi-morbidity. Type-2 diabetes is rapidly increasing, particularly in South Asia where depression in type-2 diabetes represents the largest combined mental and non-communicable disease burden.

The experts emphasised a joint approach using a scalable intervention to recognise and treat depression, integrated with diabetes care.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2020