Islamabad : Millions of Pakistanis suffering from chronic diseases including diabetes, hepatitis and other long term illnesses are also facing growing psychological and emotional distress, while rising suicide incidents, domestic violence and socio economic pressures are worsening the country’s mental health crisis, Minister of State for Health Dr Mukhtar Bharath warned on Thursday.
Addressing a mental health event organised by the Health Services Academy (HSA) in collaboration with Bahria University, Dr Mukhtar Bharath said the biggest gap in Pakistan’s healthcare system remained prevention and health promotion due to lack of public awareness.
He said an estimated 35 to 40 million people in Pakistan were living with various diseases including diabetes, hepatitis and other chronic conditions, adding that the burden of these illnesses was not limited to physical suffering alone but was also causing immense mental and emotional stress for patients and their families.
“As a result, millions of households across the country are facing mental health challenges and emotional distress at different levels,” the minister said, warning that the growing burden of mental health issues was affecting families, children and communities across Pakistan.
Referring to the increasing number of suicide incidents reported from different parts of the country, Bharath said domestic violence, social pressures and economic hardships were among the major factors contributing to mental health problems.
He said children growing up in psychologically disturbed environments were more vulnerable to negative behaviours and mental health disorders, which could affect their development and ability to become productive members of society.
The minister observed that Pakistan’s mental health sector had long remained fragmented, with psychiatrists, psychologists, allied health professionals and regulatory institutions often working in isolation without proper coordination.
Bharath stressed the need for an integrated and coordinated national strategy under which all relevant institutions and experts could collectively address mental health challenges in the country. He acknowledged that the shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists remained one of the biggest challenges facing Pakistan’s healthcare system.
He informed participants that a recent Technical Advisory Group meeting had discussed the establishment of a resilient mental health system in the context of climate change. He also announced that a major international event would be organized in Islamabad on World Mental Health Day 2026.
VC Health Services Academy Prof Dr Shahzad Ali Khan said the institution had organized Pakistan’s first major public mental health event.
