Nearly 1 in 3 Pakistani Adults Suffers From a Mental Disorder

A groundbreaking nationwide survey conducted in Pakistan, published in the British Medical Journal, has revealed that nearly one in three adults in the country is grappling with a mental or behavioral disorder. Led by Professor Raza-ur-Rahman of Hamdard University in Karachi, the five-year research, spanning 2018 to 2022, involved over 18,000 individuals across the four provinces.

The findings indicate that 32% of adults currently suffer from such disorders, while 38% have experienced one at some point in their lives. The most prevalent condition identified was post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affecting one in five adults, followed by depression, which impacted more than 10% of respondents. Notably, 6% of the participants had contemplated suicide within the preceding month.

The survey also highlighted that mental health issues were more prevalent among older adults, those who were unemployed, had lower income and education levels, and individuals who were widowed, divorced, or separated. Professor Raza-ur-Rahman emphasized that these findings offer vital national data that can aid authorities in identifying vulnerable populations, enhancing mental health services, and optimizing healthcare resource allocation.

Co-author Professor Anjum Memon of Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK hailed the study as a significant milestone, providing a clearer picture of the scope of mental health disorders in Pakistan. However, the President of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society, Professor Wajid Akhundzada, pointed out the critical shortage of trained mental health professionals and limited specialist services in the country.

The researchers recommended integrating mental health services into primary healthcare, expanding community-based support, training frontline healthcare workers, and intensifying efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.