Due to persistent wave of violence, political turmoil and frequent changes in social fabric and family disintegration, Pakistan has registered alarming increase in the incidence of mental illness, which resulted in the reporting of a range of psychiatric disorders like depression, substance and alcohol misuse, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
This was stated by Professor Dr Sayed Mohammad Sultan, head Department of Psychiatry, Khyber Medical College (KMC) and Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Peshawar while addressing a press conference in connections with World Mental Health Day being observed here on Friday.
Professor Dr Sayed Mohammad Sultan is also the president of Pakistan Psychiatric Society (PPS) and SAARC Psychiatric Federation. He was flanked by Dr Bashir Ahmad, Psychiatrist, KTH, Peshawar. He said the World Mental Health Day 2014 is being observed with the theme of 'Living with Schizophrenia' a major mental illness, which affects the thinking, feelings and behavioural faculties of the individuals suffering this illness.
He said that if the illness left untreated or even if treatment is delayed, schizophrenia can result in a major mental, social and occupational handicap, resulting in a tremendous amount of burden on the family and on the society. The people with mental illness and their families are victims of domestic violence, abuse, discrimination and stigmatisation. It is for this reason that World Health Organisation (WHO) has dedicated this day to Schizophrenia to create robust awareness about the illness. The WHO recently reported that one in four people meet criteria for psychiatric problem at some point in their lives.
He said that epidemiological studies carried out in Pakistan have shown that 34 percent of the general population suffers from anxiety and depression, in addition to one percent population suffering from schizophrenia. The prevalence of severe mental retardation in children between three years and nine years of age has been estimated at 0.5 percent. Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world with population of 200 million people of which 35-40 percent are under the age of 18 years. It is estimated that 10-15 percent of this population suffer from some form of psychiatric disorders.
According to a recent estimate there are 6.6 million substance abusers in Pakistan. Due to lack of facilities, shortage of mental health professionals and lack of awareness, majority of Pakistan do not receive treatment for mental illness. He said that Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that there should be one psychiatrist for a population of 10,000. In Pakistan, there are about 400 psychiatrists and 3000 beds in state-run hospitals.
As part of public awareness initiative, the Department of Psychiatry, KTH in collaboration with print and electronic media to increase awareness about psychiatric illness and encourage community participation in care of mentally ill people. For bringing improvement in psychiatric services, Pakistan Psychiatric Society recommended the provision of psychiatric services not only at district and tehsil level but to incorporate psychiatric services in the primary health care as well.
The society has also demanded the implementation of Mental Health Act in its true spirit to facilitate and help psychiatric patients, establishment of sub-specialties of child psychiatry, old age psychiatry and forensic psychiatry. The society also called for the introducing of evaluation system of behavioural sciences and clinical psychiatry in all medical and dental colleges of the province.
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