A representational image showing the silhouette of a woman holding her head. — AFP/File
Women, low-income urban residents and divorced Pakistanis are suffering from psychiatric disorders at disproportionately high rates, with more than 6 per cent reporting suicidal thoughts in the past month, a national psychiatric survey has found.
The findings prompted senior experts to call for urgent nationwide mental health reforms at the 26th National Psychiatric Conference in Karachi. The National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey of Pakistan 2022 found that 37.91 per cent of Pakistanis had experienced at least one psychiatric disorder in their lifetime, whereas 32.28 per cent were currently living with a mental health condition.
Mood disorders affected 19.62 per cent of the population, neurotic and stress-related disorders 24.81 per cent, psychotic disorders 4.52 per cent and substance-related mental and behavioural disorders 0.85 per cent.
The survey also showed that 6.17 per cent of the respondents had suicidal thoughts in the last month, while 1.05 per cent admitted having attempted suicide at some point in life. Mental health experts at the conference warned that the findings reflected a silent emergency fuelled by financial distress, family breakdown, gender pressure, technology-linked stress and a widening economic divide.
They said women continued to bear the heaviest emotional and psychological burden due to domestic abuse, financial dependence, social inequality and the double load of unpaid household work and caregiving.
Prof Iqbal Afridi, who led the scientific sessions, said the mental health of women and economically vulnerable families had reached a breaking point. He said Pakistan could not build resilience without recognising the emotional toll of inflation, unemployment, violence, family conflict and social insecurity on women and young people.
He noted that divorced individuals were among the most neglected and stigmatised groups in mental health care who faced severe psychological distress, loneliness, social rejection and a lack of support systems. Prof Afridi urged the government to declare mental health a national priority and integrate psychological well-being into education, community health and social policy.
He said there was a dire need to strengthen primary health care with screening and counselling services, train schools and madrasas in emotional well-being, and allocate funds for preventive mental health programmes for women, youth and low-income families.
He cautioned that without policy interventions, the burden of mental illness would continue to rise and lead to long-term social and economic consequences. The three-day conference, themed “Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience”, drew psychiatrists, psychologists, clinicians, policymakers, trainers and medical students from across the country.
Experts noted that the growing incidence of depression, anxiety, trauma and self-harm among young people was closely tied to academic pressure, unemployment, broken families, online harassment and pressures of social media validation. Sessions on youth mental health called for reforming the education system to reduce fear-based schooling, improve mentorship and promote emotional resilience.
A policy session on Pakistan’s socioeconomic challenges stressed that mental health resilience, social equity and good governance were inseparable pillars of national development as highlighted by the director general of the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Dr Syed Saifur Rehman.
Experts said Pakistan’s young population was at a psychological crossroads and needed community-based support, safe spaces for expression and early intervention to prevent long-term mental health disorders.
Former office-bearers of psychiatric bodies praised the scientific strength of this year’s conference and said Pakistan’s mental health community had shown unity and leadership in advocating reforms.
Prof Afzal Javed, the immediate past president of the World Psychiatric Association, was among those commending the progress. Lawmakers attending the event acknowledged the urgency of elevating mental health in national policymaking and expressed support for legislative changes.
Experts concluded that Pakistan’s mental health crisis required an immediate national response, expansion of community-based psychological services and widespread public awareness to reduce stigma.
They said mental health services must prioritise vulnerable groups, including women and divorced individuals, who continued to face the highest psychological burden with limited access to timely care.