PESHAWAR, Oct 10: NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai has said that there is a need to create broader public awareness about mental health problems and all sections of the society need to work together in this regard.

He was addressing a seminar at the Khyber Medical College held on Wednesday to mark the World Mental Health Day.

The governor assured participants of the seminar of accelerating efforts to set up a proper mental hospital in Peshawar.

Highlighting the importance of health, the governor expressed concern that psychological, social and spiritual aspects had not received the desired attention.

“The perception has now changed because of which emotional and mental dimensions of health have assumed an added importance,” he said.

Mr Aurakzai said that the government was trying to redress the problem and such a large-scale challenge needed the attention of all segments of society.

“Families, educational institutions, media, non-governmental and religious organisations must join hands in a meaningful manner,” he said.

According to him, the redeeming feature of mental health problems was that they were largely preventable and preventive measures did not require large sums of money.

“Simple measures like community sensitisation and helping people bring positive changes in their attitude could go a long way in achieving the goal,” he said.

The governor said that existing psychiatric care facilities at the Khyber Medical College were not satisfactory and ordered the hospital authorities to upgrade them as soon as possible.

“We need more doctors to become mental health professionals and undergraduate training is an area needing urgent attention,” he said, adding that the Khyber Medical University should pay due attention on mental health education.

He assured of his maximum support in implementing any realistic plan.

He said that reserved seats for Fata students had been increased from 95 to 125. According to him, the government wanted to promote medical and engineering education in tribal areas and proper institutions would be built.

He said that Rs120 billion had been allocated for Fata under the Fata Sustainable Development Plan.

The seminar was also addressed by Dr Mohammad Daud Khan, Dr Fazal Ahmad and Dr Syed Mohammad Sultan.