Why Mental Health Issues in Pakistan are still a Taboo?

And
what will be the consequences of this?

The stigmas associated with mental issues together with the phrase “
Men Don’t Cry ” makes it a Taboo and therefore it's not an easy thing to
talk about mental health problems where the patient is held
accountable for their illnesses. The inability to disclose the hardship and
sufferings one is facing in a country with political and economical turmoil
can have disastrous consequences for a person's social life. Moreover,
the vulnerability to express your feelings and keeping the emotion to
oneself by burying it deep down into yourself when everything
happening to you cannot be talked about because you might be seen as
“ weak”.

Common mental health problems have been identified in both the rural
and urban population [1] which seems to have a positive association
with socio-economic adversities, relationship problems, and lack of
social support [2]. Depressive and anxiety disorders appear to be the
highest. Many Pakistani people believe that mental health problems are
associated with religion therefore masses depend upon these religious
healers for their psychiatric disorders. Spirituality can calm people but
depending entirely on religion can be dangerous. Labeling mental health
as a consequence of being distant from religion and mental disorders
being called supernatural or para natural in society causes people to be
avoided being seen in a psychiatric office.

Pakistan is home to nearly 200 million people having one of the worst
mental health indices and fewer than 500 psychiatrists per million
people. More than 90% of Pakistan’s population with common mental
diseases go untreated due to the country’s dearth of mental health
experts.[3]. These numbers are enough and speak loudly but miserably
about the suffering of these people. It has been discerned that low
mental health literacy could be one of the main causes of high rates of
mental illness in a population. Mental health literacy has been defined
by Jorm et al. as “knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which
aid their recognition, management or prevention”[ 4]
These issues if not treated can lead to far worse repercussions on not
only their personal but also on their marital life. From suicidal thoughts
to living a life of compromise by sacrificing their emotional health. The
situation is worse for women as they fear that if they seek a divorce,
their family and friends might cut them off. The financial dependence of
several women makes it more unattainable for them to seek separation.
This bounds many couples in unhappy marriages, wreaking their mental
health.

Societal stigma not only harm adults but also aids in keeping the mental
health of children stays a taboo in Pakistan. The majority of the schools
are deprived of mental health counselors and school staff is negligent
towards issues like bullying. Phrases like “why are you crying like a child”
is very common in Pakistan which obstructs children and teens from
talking about their mental health. Constant abuse can result in the
development of Post-traumatic stress disorder [5] and depression and
can make both men and women more vulnerable to substance abuse
and even suicide.

In conclusion, Mental health is a serious problem that is made worse by

political instability, and more importantly, women are at the forefront of
this issue, causing them to have harsh living conditions. For Pakistan to
advance as a nation this Taboo should be minimized if not completely
eradicated. Therefore this negativity must be tackled and dealt with
seriously to stop mental health from staying a Taboo in Pakistan.

References
1. David DB, Malik MH. Stress and psychiatric disorder in Urban
Rawalpindi, community survey. The British Journal of Psychiatry.
2000;177:557–62. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Ref list]
2. Mental health problems in Pakistani society as a consequence of
violence and trauma: a case for better integration of care
Muhammad Tahir Khalily, PhD, AFPsSI, Reg.Psychol, Senior Clinical
Psychologist

3. Sehat Kahani
4.  Stigma towards people with mental illness in developing countries in
Asia. Lauber C, Rö ssler W. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;19:157–
178. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
5. PTSD by mayo clinic staff