ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday emphasized the need for the formulation of a national mental health policy to address the mental health issues in Pakistan.
He said that 24 percent of the population of the country was facing various mental health problems, and it required an institutional framework and public-private partnership to provide mental health services to the people.
The President expressed these views while chairing a follow-up meeting on mental health in Pakistan at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
National Mental Health App “Humraaz”
A detailed presentation by the Ministry of National Health Services on the National Mental Health App “Humraaz” highlighted that over 240,000 calls had been received since its launch in April 2023.
The President appreciated the launching of the app that was providing mental health help and counseling services to people in need.
He called for improving the effectiveness of the app, besides strengthening the mental health support system in the country.
The President said that mental health was a major concern for Pakistan, which required coordinated efforts by both the public and private sectors to utilize their expertise.
He further stressed the need for an integrated approach on all mental health-related programs and initiatives to effectively address the mental health challenges being faced by the people in Pakistan.
President Alvi urged the need for the capacity building of human resources, besides providing online training to overcome the shortage of mental health professionals.
The meeting highlighted the need to raise awareness about mental health problems to educate people about the significance of seeking mental health counseling.
The role of the family in providing psychological support and helping manage health problems was also highlighted.
During the meeting, the need for collective steps and an integrated approach involving various stakeholders, including relevant ministries, Pakistani psychiatric associations based in the USA and the UK, and civil society, was also stressed.
The Federal Minister for Health Services appreciated the role played by President Dr Arif Alvi and First Lady Samina Alvi in raising awareness about different health problems in Pakistan.
He expressed the hope that the precedent set by the Presidency would be sustained and followed.
