By Mehrunnisa Jameel

With a population of nearly 200 million, Pakistan has one of the worst mental health conditions, with less than 500 psychiatrists per million people. Due to the absence of mental health professionals, over 90% of Pakistan’s population suffers from untreated mental illnesses. While there appears to be a greater awareness of mental health issues and a shortage of psychiatrists in Pakistan, the stigma associated with mental illness persists. There are still many problems with mental health treatment. It was seen as a luxury, a taboo, something not to be talked about, something not to be shared.

Mental Health Is Taboo In Pakistan; A rule or taboo is the restriction of anything based on the belief that it is unclean, sacred, or only allowed by a group of people. Anything that happens but cannot be talked about is called a taboo subject. Mental health education is rare in a country where “sanity” and “madness” are opposites. The condition remains a nationwide taboo, as derogatory terms have been added to mental illness. Mental health treatment seen as a luxury. Another reason why mental health is considered taboo in Pakistan is because mental health treatment is considered a luxury. You see people talking about physical ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure. But the issue of mental illness is often overlooked by those who have a “shouldn’t talk about what they can’t afford” mentality.

Trial and discrimination; There is a lot of judgment and discrimination among people in Pakistan. There is always discrimination among citizens based on race, color, gender and even disease. Using words like “Pagal” (crazy) and “Nafsiyati” (mental disorder) to insult people is a cultural practice that causes people not to talk about their mental problems. Social Stamps

There are many stigmas in our society. This not only affects people’s mental health, but also reinforces people’s taboo ideas. For example, there is a lot of stigma associated with divorce in Pakistan. If the couple decides to separate, they will have to face many judgments. The situation is even worse for women because they fear that their family and friends will not approve of them if they want a divorce. Some women’s economic dependence makes it hard for them to want a breakup. This situation binds many unhappy spouses together and impairs their mental health. Social discrimination not only harms the elderly, but also helps children stay healthy, which is still a limitation in Pakistan. Most schools do not have mental health counselors and school staff do not care about issues such as bullying. The prevalence of phrases such as “why are you crying like a child” and “man” in Pakistan prevents children and young people from talking about their brains.

Spousal discrimination; Couples in Pakistan learned that marital abuse is a family issue and they should keep it a secret from themselves. Praising women’s equality, even in matters such as physical and emotional abuse, has helped alleviate mental health problems in Pakistan. Ongoing abuse can lead to the development of PTSD and depression and make men and women more susceptible to substance abuse and even suicide. Conclusion

There is no health without mental health. Mental illness is a major problem in Pakistan, exacerbated by conflict and conflict. Women are also at the forefront of this problem that ruins their lives. For Pakistan to progress as a country, mental disorders that are contagious and negatively affect the health of the population as a whole need to be addressed. It’s hard to talk about taboo topics, but mental health should be banned in Pakistan.

The writer is a student of BS Journalism Studies 8 Semester at School of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore.