LAHORE:Ameeruddin Medical College Principal Prof Dr M Farooq Afzal has stressed that mental health holds far greater importance than physical health, as mental illness can render a person completely dependent on others unlike physical disabilities.
Speaking at an awareness walk and skit organised by the Department of Psychiatry, Lahore General Hospital (LGH) to mark World Schizophrenia Awareness Day, Prof Farooq said that Mental health cannot be ignored under any circumstances. While a person with physical weakness can still manage life with some support, mental disability makes an individual entirely dependent on others. Schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders can be effectively managed with timely diagnosis and proper treatment, enabling patients to live dignified and productive lives.
Prof Faiza Athar, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, doctors, medical students, health professionals and paramedical staff participated in the awareness walk. The participants carried placards highlighting the need for empathy, respect for patients’ dignity and the importance of early medical intervention.A specially prepared awareness skit was also presented, effectively portraying the social challenges faced by schizophrenia patients, the crucial role of family support, and the necessity of timely treatment. Prof Faiza Athar while highlighting symptoms and treatment said that schizophrenia is a brain disorder in which patients may hear voices or see things that are not real, severely affecting their thinking and decision-making abilities.
