Ahsan Iqbal, the minister for planning and development stated that, the mental health is a requirement for physical health when speaking about the introduction of the “Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) model at the ministry.
He claimed that about 20 million people in the nation had mental health problems, which could be treated with the right medical care.
According to Ahsan Iqbal, the problem has grown more complicated because of the lack of such healthcare services, which has caused social and economic unrest in society.
According to the minister, the ministry of planning is developing a mechanism in coordination with Islamabad’s local government to establish a model healthcare hospital in order to guarantee health facilities.
In order to help ensure that there are mental health facilities in all four provinces, he said that this model would be replicated in those provinces.
The federal government would assist in bolstering their health infrastructure, he said, adding that provincial governments were in charge of providing primary healthcare facilities.
The minister also emphasized the importance of educating the public about mental health.
To commemorate World Mental Health Day, the MHPSS model, which is multilayered, digital, rights-based, scalable, and sustainable has been introduced. It was developed in accordance with WHO guidelines.
The model seeks to strengthen professional capacity in the field of mental health and foster cross-sector cooperation.
The model will be an excellent solution to the expanding problems with it.
Over 30 million people in the nation are estimated to have a mental illness, according to estimates from the WHO.
A huge gap in the care of mental health issues has been caused by Pakistan’s estimated total shortage of less than 500 psychiatrists.
Over 80% of people with common mental health disorders go untreated because there aren’t enough mental health professionals.
“I am happy to launch this model, which was started in 2016, Ahsan Iqbal said while addressing the launching ceremony of the model.
“If the mental health is compromised then it will affect physical health too,” he said while emphasizing the importance of this which remained neglected in the country.
He stated that this model will be implemented in ICT in the beginning in collaboration with the WHO, the health ministry, and the planning commission.
Other speakers emphasized that mental health cases in the country have increased as a result of the recent floods, and the government’s decision to extend mental health facilities to the primary healthcare level will make a significant difference in rehabilitating the disaster-stricken people.
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