Rising Rate of Suicide Attempts in Lahore: Let’s Talk About Mental Health In Pakistan

It’s alarming to hear that only in the first six months of 2019, there have been an unprecedented number of about 206 suicide attempts in Lahore alone.

According to Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code, attempted suicide is a criminal offence and punishable by at least one year of imprisonment and/or a fine. Furthermore, suicide, being prohibited in Islam, is comparatively not as widespread as it is in countries such as India and China.

Read: 5 Symptoms of Depression and How to Deal With Them

However, this is not always a deterrent and Pakistanis are finding themselves falling victim to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression more often.

Why this drastic “solution”?

In a country where 60 percent of citizens struggle to find food to eat, it doesn’t come as a surprise that an impoverished standard of living can often contribute in Pakistanis falling into depression. Citizens are engulfed in a poverty-ridden society where it is nearly impossible to make your way up the ladder.

A lot of the time, people are merely victims of circumstance, not having been given the right opportunities in terms of education, healthcare and social security etc.

Moreover, rejected marriage proposals, unrequited love as well as domestic disputes and familial problems, too, are in abundance and contribute towards pushing people over the edge. Inflation, unemployment, political instability, terrorism and social hierarchy all are contributors when it comes to mental distress.

Lack of mental health awareness and facilities

It’s not always external and physical factors which lead to depression taking root in people but also internal agitation and anxiety.

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We live in a society where there is a stigma surrounding talk of mental health – often preventing people from getting the help they need and coming out of the ignorance of their mental illness. There are very few ways to reach the mass urban and rural population in order to educate them on the severity of the issue. And similarly, there are very few ways available for the community to reach out and seek mental help.

Firstly, psychology and psychiatry are not very favorable sub-fields in science as they are not considered to be the most lucrative.

Studying such subjects can be pretty similar to gambling with your future and practicality is favored. This leads to Pakistan having one of the lowest mental illness patient-to-doctor ratios in the world.

Secondly, seeking treatment for mental health in Pakistan is expensive.

For instance, a good therapy session may cost PKR 4000 at the very least with several more sessions needed. This amount is unaffordable for the masses at large and financial constraints play a significant role in keeping people away from seeking help.

Thirdly, language barriers prevent citizens from learning about mental health and seeking help.

In a country like Pakistan where there are several regional languages i.e. Pashto, Punjabi, Sindhi, etc. Hence, one is unable to communicate freely with an Urdu-speaking or English-speaking psychologist.

Steps that can/ are being taken

In critical times, it’s important to remember that suicide is seen as permanent “fix” to a temporary problem by the sufferer. It’s high-time a conversation of mental health in Pakistan begins in our society and those suffering from a mental health illness need to know that they do not stand alone.

1. Help Hotlines

An example of a Pakistan based hotline would be Umang. This hotline is accessible 24/7 and completely free of cost – set up solely to listen in times of need. Its mission is to fight the taboo associated with mental health and raise awareness nationwide. Umang has a highly qualified and experienced team of counselors who are regulated and monitored by senior certified psychologists with years of experience.

• Social Media Awareness

Re-tweet on twitter. Share on Facebook. Post on Instagram. Get the word out about mental health! Make sure your neighbors, friends and family know that you are there to lend a helping hand. Get others talking about this vital issue so people don’t feel ashamed about seeking help, battling an illness or speaking out.

Read: 3 Things To Do When You Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything!

• Sign a Petition

Your voice matters so make sure it’s heard! There are several petitions Pakistanis can sign to help regulate mental health treatment.

https://www.change.org/p/government-of-pakistan-pakistan-must-prioritise-mental-healthcare-and-implement-mental-health-legislation

• Donate

Foundations and organizations working to combat mental illnesses need all the help they can get. One can easily donate to such setups and play his/ her role. For example, Karwan-e-Hayat is a foundation which needs the extra help and deals with patients of severe mental illnesses susceptible to depression.