limate emergency, poverty, inequality, displacement, war and disease are only some of the overlapping crises that have occurred in the 21st Century. Not only do these crises have an impact on economies and ecosystems, they also have a negative impact on the human mind. Given these circumstances, mental health has evolved into a challenge that is increasingly defining our times. The suicide of SP Adeel Akbar, a police officer serving in Islamabad, in October this year, highlights the critical need to address mental well-being in Pakistani institutions and the society.

The capacity to perform with clarity, balance and emotional stability is the essence of what we mean when we talk about mental health. Individuals begin to spiral out of control on the inside when this equilibrium is disrupted. This occurs when their thoughts and actions diverge from what is necessary for maintaining life and relationships. The difference between psychological pain and physical pain is that psychological pain does not leave visible scars. It bleeds one silently through feelings of anxiety, apathy, fury, dread, insomnia and separation from joy. The prevalence of these symptoms is now ubiquitous. They are not a reflection of individual weakness but of shared distress. Seneca, a Stoic philosopher, made the observation that “There is more suffering in our imagination than there is in reality.” In many cases, the mind is the source of pain long before the body reacts to it. There is a resonance between this ancient wisdom and contemporary psychology: perception and cognition shape emotions and unprocessed thoughts become illness.

Imagine a verdant garden. The gardener cannot maintain its beauty; the richness of the soil that lies beneath it is also important. The mind is that soil; it is the basis upon which all human development is built. An uncared-for mind, much like undernourished soil, is incapable of fostering life. It is therefore not the absence of disease that constitutes mental health; rather, it is the existence of self-awareness, empathy and the ability to regulate one’s emotions. Self-knowledge, which is defined as the capacity to identify thoughts, patterns and triggers, is the cornerstone of physical and mental health. The clarity within ourselves determines how we react to situations, whether they involve failure or celebrity, rejection or acclaim.

Mental disorders are not a recent phenomenon. They have been present in every society. We now have the power to diagnose and cure illness using scientific methods. This is what sets the modern period apart from earlier eras. In the year 2023, the World Health Organisation estimated that over 970 million people around the world were affected by a mental health illness. This represents nearly one in eight people. Over 264 million individuals suffer from depression and 284 million people are affected by anxiety disorders. Nearly 45 million people around the world are affected by bipolar illness. The individuals in question are not singular people; rather, they are representative of patterns of social weariness, dread and exclusion. Despite the fact that it affects around 20 million individuals around the world, schizophrenia continues to be one of the disorders that is stigmatised and misunderstood the most. The 2021 movie A Beautiful Mind, based on the life of the mathematician John Nash, provided a look into this undetectable struggle and was a reminder that genius does not shield one from the vulnerability of the mind.

Asking for assistance is a sign of strength, not weakness. On a moral, medical and institutional level, it is essential. Just as the body needs rest and care, so does the mind.

Many people in rural Sindh and southern Punjab in Pakistan believe that djinn possession, curses or divine punishment cause mental illness. Spiritual healers are more popular among patients than psychiatrists. In a world where people aren’t aware of the connection between spiritual activities and health, people can be exploited and their healing delayed. Even among nominally educated people, mental health literacy is low. Also, there is no clear policy commitment. The professional mask is another manifestation of quiet in urban organisations. Weakness is often associated with vulnerability in the public sector, the military and law enforcement. Those in authoritative roles are disproportionately and, in some cases, tragically isolated by cultural conditioning.

On October 24, SP Adeel Akbar, zonal head of the Industrial Area, Islamabad Police, was found deceased in his vehicle from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The police investigation established suicide, indicating that he had been experiencing chronic stress, professional stagnatio, and emotional distress. His demise underscores a wider institutional issue: the lack of organised psychological assistance in law enforcement forces. The occupational culture of stoicism—prioritising endurance over expression—transforms emotional anguish into a personal struggle. Akbar’s suicide is not an isolated incident but a manifestation of systemic failure, exemplifying how professional hierarchies and social shame inhibit the fundamental human desire for assistance.

“The mind is everything,” Gautama Buddha said more than two millennia ago. “You are the sum of your thoughts.” This insight is supported by modern psychology—thought patterns create reality. Psychological literacy, or the capacity to comprehend and control one’s own mental architecture, is thus as important as treatment. Asking for assistance is a sign of strength, not weakness. On moral, medical and institutional levels, it is essential. Just as the body needs rest and care, so does the mind.

The foundation of our communal existence is mental wellness. No system, be it political, economic or moral, can thrive in its absence. As a culture, we fail to notice the invisible wounds that our servants bear. SP Adeel Akbar’s death is a stark reminder of this. Pakistan must reform honour his memory and go beyond grief. Everyone deserves to be heard, no matter how fragile or strong they may be.

The writer is a researcher and a development professional.