LAHORE: Medical experts and healthcare providers said that stress, depression and anxiety are contributing to the development of mental health disorders and are quickly disrupting a person’s routine.

They also discussed the barriers and challenges people face in Pakistan, a developing country with limited socioeconomic resources and mental healthcare access.

The experts addressed a seminar organised by the psychiatry department of Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) on Wednesday to raise awareness in connection with World Mental Health Day.

FJMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal, former Punjab health minister Prof Dr Javed Akram, psychiatrist retired Brig Prof Mowadat Hussain Rana, and other senior teaching faculty members were present.

The theme of World Mental Health Day 2024 is “Mental Health in the Workplace.”

The main objective of the seminar was to make mental health a global priority.

Prof Gondal informed participants that mental health was essential for humanity as it helps people live healthy lives and play pivotal roles in societies. He recommended timely diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses to prevent mental disorders and related issues, noting that major challenges associated with mental healthcare include delayed treatment due to lack of awareness, false beliefs, and stigma attached to mental health problems.

“People often associate symptoms of mental illness with supernatural phenomena and demonic possessions and seek help from spiritual healers,” he said, adding that FJMU has a designated psychiatry department that plays a vital role in addressing mental health issues. He vowed to further improve the department in future.

Prof Mowadat Hussain highlighted various aspects related to providing the best possible mental health facilities at the workplace. He said anxiety and depression were the most common mental disorders in the world.

Students should be provided with opportunities for brainstorming in the workplace and skills for everyday life.

Prof Javed Akram appreciated the Student Counselling Centre set up for the students of Fatima Jinnah Medical University. He said the attached Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is one of the major teaching institutes in the province, leading in mental health treatment services.

“We aim to improve the system to strengthen teaching institutions to fight future challenges, as mental health disorders are contributing significantly to suicide attempts and other social crimes,” he said.

If mental health deteriorates, it will also affect physical health, he added, stressing the need for the government to allocate more funds to establish designated mental health institutes for the well-being of the public.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2024