KARACHI: Speakers at a seminar on Sunday said that sexual harassment and poor working conditions have become significant health hazards, warning that failure to collectively address these issues will lead to societal destruction.

They stressed the need of tackling inflation and economic inequality and said that these were adversely affecting the mental health of people across the country.

The speakers made these observations at a programme organised by the Pakistan Association for Mental Health (PAMH) at the Karachi Press Club to mark World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme is ‘It’s Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace.

The event was inaugurated by PAMH Patron-in-Chief Prof Dr Syed Haroon Ahmed.

In his keynote speech, PAMH president Dr S Ali Wasif addressed the three major issues of illiteracy, healthcare, and economic difficulties, highlighting how inflation is intensifying stress and anxiety among people.

“When people are unsure if they will get a second meal, stress increases, impacting the quality of life and forcing many to borrow,” he observed.

He added that poverty is worsening, and limited access to healthcare is compounding the issue.

“Health has turned into an industry,” Dr Wasif said, criticising pharmaceutical companies for focusing on symptomatic treatments instead of addressing root social causes.

He added that low-income groups, particularly women, children, and the sick, are disproportionately affected by economic pressures, contributing to a rise in domestic violence.

Dr Wasif stressed the dangers of sexual harassment at the workplace, labeling it a health hazard trigger. He warned that without collective efforts to address the issue, the situation could become disastrous.

He cited statistics indicating that one in three women face sexual harassment, often by male colleagues, and noted that 19 per cent of women in Pakistan experience harassment.

The lack of sufficient pay at workplaces was also a major concern, he said and criticised traditional work environments where employees are compelled to work long hours without adequate compensation, regardless of their emotional burden.

“Workers are told to work until midnight, even if their mother is in the hospital,” he said, pointing out that such working conditions lead to irritability and frustration. He noted that these temperamental issues are prevalent in government institutions, with overworked doctors showing signs of stress in public hospitals.

He suggested that addressing the stigma around mental health, increasing public awareness, and promoting empathy and respect could significantly improve mental health without the need for medications.

Dr Wasif also touched on the high suicide rates in Sindh, particularly in areas like Thar, where economic development, such as coal mining projects, has displaced local populations. He criticised the notion of sacrificing human lives for industrial progress, lamenting the loss of traditional lifestyles.

“People in Thar, who lived without fear in homes made of bushes, are now being forced into model apartments where they might suffocate to death,” he said.

Anis Haroon, a member of the Sindh Human Rights Commission and Aurat Foundation, spoke about the ongoing issues of sexual harassment at the workplace and the 2010 Sexual Harassment Act.

She highlighted that 52pc of women in Pakistan experience verbal abuse, while 19pc face physical assault, calling for comprehensive mental health programs in workplaces to support employees.

Other speakers, including PAMH general secretary Dr Ajmal Mughal and Advocate Shazia Nizamani, chairperson of the Sindh Women Lawyers Alliance, emphasised the need to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare to ensure early detection and intervention.

They recommended training primary care physicians and paramedical staff in mental health, along with establishing support systems such as counselling services, community support groups, and workplace mental health programmes.

Earlier, Dr Rubina Kidwai, a clinical psychologist and senior research scientist at the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning, recited Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem “Intasab” to open the event.

PAMH’s annual report was presented by Dr Mughal, followed by the screening of the documentary Unseen, produced by Uzair Surhio, highlighting the ignorant attitude of society towards human dignity.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2024