KARACHI: Mental health professionals and civil society representatives discussed the importance of non-judgemental listening to people with understanding and compassion, saying those seeking help need to feel heard and understood before treatment begins.
The speakers shared their views at a programme organised by the Pakistan Association for Mental Health (PAMH) at the Karachi Press Club to mark World Mental Health Day 2026.
Addressing the gathering, PAMH President Dr Syed Ali Wasif said this year’s theme went beyond conventional discussions of mental illness and treatment, raising a fundamental question about how people listen to and understand one another.
He emphasised that people with lived experience of mental health challenges should be treated as partners in care and policy development, not merely as patients. Their experiences, he noted, offer valuable insights that clinical knowledge and statistics alone may not capture.
PAMH president says people with mental health challenges should be treated as ‘partners in care’, not merely as patients
Dr Wasif identified the weakening of family support systems and increasing social isolation, particularly among young people, as growing concerns. As traditional spaces for family conversation decline and digital engagement becomes more consuming, many people are left with fewer opportunities to share their concerns and seek emotional support.
He also highlighted persistent gaps in mental health services, including limited resources, weak implementation of legislation, discontinuity in care and the pressures faced by mental health professionals. While free camps can provide initial assistance, he cautioned that their impact is limited when follow-up care is unavailable.
Calling for practical reforms, Dr Wasif urged the integration of mental health services into schools, primary healthcare and community-based support systems. He stressed the need to create safe environments where people can discuss their difficulties without fear of stigma or judgement.
“We must stop talking about people and start talking with them — and act on what we hear,” he said, emphasising that a more effective mental health system must be compassionate, accessible, affordable and responsive to people’s needs.
In his video message, former Federal Board of Revenue chairman Shabbar Zaidi highlighted the gap between the need for mental healthcare and the services available in Pakistan.
Many people experiencing psychological distress, he observed, hesitate to seek professional help, and the effects often extend to their families, colleagues and wider social circles.
He cautioned that treatment can be compromised when healthcare providers form opinions too quickly without adequately understanding a person’s circumstances and experiences. A patient-centred approach, he said, requires professionals to listen carefully, avoid premature judgements and build trust.
Describing this as a broader social problem, Mr Zaidi observed that people often “talk at each other rather than with each other”. Genuine listening, he stressed, is essential to meaningful communication and recovery.
Mr Zaidi also paid tribute to the late Prof Dr Syed Haroon Ahmed, recalling their long-standing personal and professional association.
He acknowledged Dr Ahmed’s contributions as the chairman of the SIUT Trust and the first Rector of the Sindh Institute of Medical Sciences.
In his presentation, Prof M. Munir Hamirani explored how personal experiences of addiction recovery, mental health challenges and caring for people with illnesses can deepen understanding in healthcare.
He explained that lived experience offers insights that formal education alone cannot provide. When meaningfully included in mental health services, it can strengthen empathy, challenge stigma and help frame recovery around dignity, personal purpose and the ability to lead a meaningful life.
His presentation also addressed barriers to timely psychiatric care, the importance of active listening, and the roles of resilience and forgiveness in recovery.
The event was attended by Anis Haroon, Dr Iqbal Afridi, Dr Razaur Rehman and many friends and supporters of PAMH.
Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026
