Health Desk
Islamabad – Mental and neurological disorders are rising at an alarming rate in Pakistan, while the number of qualified specialists to treat these conditions remains extremely limited. Health experts warn that a significant portion of the youth population is suffering from mental health issues, and the current healthcare system is ill-equipped to manage this growing crisis.
According to experts, out of Pakistan’s population of 240 million, around 25 million people are affected by various neurological or mental disorders. Furthermore, nearly 15% of the country’s youth suffer from some form of mental illness.
Shockingly, there are only about 400 neurologists available across the entire nation — a number grossly inadequate for the growing needs of patients. Overall, the country also faces a widespread shortage of medical specialists, severely impacting the diagnosis and treatment process.
Experts caution that increasing air pollution in urban areas is not only damaging lungs but is also adversely affecting brain health.
They emphasized that there is no proper infrastructure for mental health in district hospitals or basic health units across Pakistan, which results in delayed diagnoses and lack of treatment for many patients.
“Healthy minds are the foundation of a prosperous society,” said one expert, adding that unfortunately, no serious or effective government policy currently exists to promote mental well-being in the country.
Experts urged the government to immediately address the situation by improving mental health infrastructure, increasing the number of trained professionals, and launching awareness campaigns to help combat this silent epidemic of mental illness in Pakistan.
