LARKANA: Larkana Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) Department of Psychiatry Chairman Professor Badaruddin Junejo said on Monday that approximately 15 million people in Pakistan are suffering from psychiatric problems which constitute between 10 to 15 per cent of total population of the country.
This he said while talking to PPI on the eve of the ‘World Mental Health Day’. He said presently, more than 400 psychiatrists are working in Pakistan which means one psychiatrist is available for every 5 lac people, or 10,000 affected patients, which is a very low ratio.
He said that the number of mental health patients was constantly rising in the country causes of which included poverty, price hikes, economic problems, unemployment, political instability, violence, terrorism, physical diseases, drugs, genetic and others.
He said that most of the psychiatric patients included those who deeply suffered from depression and anxiety but conversion disorders, acute stress reaction, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorder, dementia or mental retardation, substance abuse, personality disorders and other related diseases also put big burden.
Professor Junejo said that the World Mental Health Day is being celebrated around the globe on October 10 which was started at the very outset in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health, and today millions of people are observing this day to mark its importance and create awareness.
He also said that according to WHO, every fourth person is suffering from mental disorder in the world today. He added that this year’s theme is ‘mental health in workplace’, adding that atmosphere at the workplace for the employees should be healthy which will ultimately benefit the owner and on the contrary unhealthy environment will create physical and mental issues.
He said that since the last 30 years, department of psychiatry is providing treatment in Chandka Medical College Hospital to the affected patients. He added that a programme called ‘SOUL’ was started eight years ago for schizophrenia patients who are not only provided treatment at their homes but they are also being helped for personal, social and professional rehabilitation.