Mental Health And Why Is It Still a Taboo In Pakistan?

 

Picture this. You are having some issues dealing with people around you. You have always been an extrovert, but now you do not feel like interacting with anyone. You have trouble sharing your concerns with anyone out of the fear of being ‘judged’. With all of this, you are expected to be happy and cheerful all the time. The moment you step out of your bedroom door, you put a smile on your face. A smile that conceals all your troubles.

Well this picture is the reality of more than half of the Pakistanis.

Living in a Pakistani household where members consider seeing a psychologist as a disgrace to the family name is not very easy for children lacking mental well-being. We have often seen statements like, ‘You are not depressed, you are just ungrateful’ coming from various members of the society. Practically speaking, living in a society still suffering from the aftermath of COVID, political instability, crashing economy, lack of jobs; it is normal to not feel your best and suffer because of the environment one is thriving in.

Is it a luxury?

Nearly 90% of people in Pakistan are suffering from common mental diseases and a vast majority go untreated, due to:

1. Anyone suffering from a mental health disorder is called ‘crazy’ and is stigmatized and proper care is not provided.
2. There is a lack of availability of qualified psychologists as there are fewer than 500 psychologists for every 1 million people.

With the high demand and less supply, seeking a psychologist is in fact quite expensive for the vast majority of the population. A person from an  average-income household, willing to see a therapist,  may not have financial resources to afford this ‘luxury’.

Why is it still a stigma?

While being vulnerable and being able to express one’s emotions may come across as a battle for many, it is unfortunately also a matter of pride and ego for men in Pakistan. The first step to mental wellbeing is self-acceptance. It can be really hard to take this step when you have people around you saying ‘Men do not cry’ or ‘Stop crying like a girl’. From a very tender age, boys are taught to be strong and brave and are not allowed to freely express their emotions. This leads to them developing the inability to express themselves at all. 

Is there a solution?

Without doubt, changing the mindset of masses in a jiffy is nearly impossible. However, we can work to discourage this mindset in the youth, fostering widespread acceptance in the future.