ISLAMABAD: On World Mental Health Day, Pakistan joined the global community in highlighting the critical importance of mental health and the need for serious attention to mental health conditions and psychological challenges. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that mental health is integral to overall health, underscoring the absence of health without mental health.
According to Press Information Department, this year’s theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” stresses the necessity of not only listening to those with lived experiences of mental health issues but also incorporating their insights into policies, services, and decisions. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of including affected individuals and experts in developing effective strategies to strengthen mental health systems.
The message highlighted mental health’s role in the development of young people, recognizing the challenges they face in their personal and intellectual growth. Addressing these issues is seen as vital for harnessing human potential for national development. The Prime Minister called for mental health conditions to be accepted as readily as physical illnesses, advocating for a supportive environment free from stigma.
The Government of Pakistan is actively working to combat social stigma, ensure timely treatment, and improve access to mental health support. The Ministry of National Health Services is developing the National Mental Health Policy 2026-35, focusing on an accessible and equitable approach to mental health, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes.
Efforts are being made to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare, education, and community platforms, with particular focus on children, youth, women, and vulnerable groups. Special attention is given to communities impacted by poverty, displacement, and climate change. The Prime Minister called for a collective effort involving governments, educational institutions, families, civil society, and development partners to ensure effective treatment and rehabilitation.
Prime Minister Sharif urged Pakistanis to foster a society where mental health can be discussed openly, without stigma, and where everyone has the support to lead fulfilling lives.