PMDC to Check Mental Health of Medical and Dental Students

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has mandated annual mental health screenings for approximately 22,500 medical and dental students, faculty, and staff. This initiative seeks to detect psychological distress and suicide risk at an early stage, according to PMDC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj.

Speaking at the Pakistan Global Mental Health Summit 2026, Prof. Taj emphasized the importance of identifying individuals experiencing emotional distress or other mental health issues and providing support before their conditions escalate to self-harm. The screening is part of a broader effort to improve mental health care for Pakistan's future medical and dental professionals.

Mental health education has been integrated into undergraduate medical and dental curricula, with teaching hours increased from 50 to 175, with plans to further expand it to 200 hours. This enhanced curriculum aims to equip future healthcare providers with the skills to recognize and address mental health conditions.

To complement the educational efforts, PMDC has directed medical and dental colleges to establish primary mental health care centers. These centers will offer support and referral services for students, staff, and others in need of assistance.

These measures follow findings from Pakistan's first nationwide psychiatric survey. The study revealed that 32.3% of adults in Pakistan, nearly one-third of the population, suffer from diagnosable mental or behavioral disorders. Additionally, 6.2% of participants experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors in the previous month, while 1.1% reported having attempted suicide at some point in their lives.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Afridi, a psychiatrist and co-author of the study, emphasized that these findings will inform policymaking, workforce planning, and the expansion of community-based mental health services.