Mental health disorders constitute a fair share of morbidity and mortality in our society. Depression and anxiety are the fastest growing diseases in the world. Psychosis, schizophrenia, mania and addiction are the most challenging disorders that demand scientific research. All around the world governments and societies are putting in money and resources for establishing facilities to deal with such disorders. Health has been a weak point for many previous governments in Pakistan. Sadly not much attention has been given so far to mental health as well. During their rule on subcontinent the British established a couple of institutions for mental health one in Lahore and the other in Sukkur. KPK government in their last term established an institute in Peshawar. Apart from these there is not a single public sector institution available for millions of patients affected by these disorders. Most of these patients have to stay on medications for rest of their lives. If you get a chance to see the OPD of PIMH (Punjab institute of mental health) Lahore you will be amazed to see people coming all the way from Taunia , DG Khan, Tank , Dera Bugti , Skardu etc. just to get medications for their patients as many of psychiatric medications are not available in their areas. And this is just the tip of ice berg as far as problems are concerned. There is no concept of psychotherapy for most of the patients. No concept of family education least the rehab. The institutes which are available to the patients have a sadistic environment where even a normal person can get mad. The Govt. of Punjab has taken some steps to increase the no. Of doctors and facilities for the patients. And addiction treatment center is established in Lahore but no efforts have been made to modernize the treatment. Lahore despite being the hub of doctors in Punjab still has not a single professor of psychiatry in its largest institute of mental health. All the system is being run by diploma holders. Psychotherapy and psycho-education are the mainstay of treatment in psychiatric disorders in the whole world but it’s a luxury for patients in Pakistan only few can have. Where in the world an institute of 1500 patients can be managed by only 7 psychologists. The government needs to take concrete steps to induct fresh blood of psychologists in these institutions. There are only 2 psychiatrists in 22 districts outside Lahore of Punjab. New institutions need to build in order to decrease the load on health facilities of Punjab.
Madadgaar 