Health Agency for Khan At the Aga Khan Medical Centre in Gilgit, Pakistan, the Taskeen mental health helpline has been established.Its main goal is to quickly, discreetly, and conveniently provide local residents with mental health care.
The Brain and Mind Institute of Aga Khan University, Taskeen, a nonprofit organisation that promotes mental health and offers counselling, and Aga Khan Health Service Pakistan have joined forces to launch this initiative.
Local psychologists from Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) who are proficient in the local languages will work on the helpline. Callers will be given free access to counselling and psychological support programmes.
Mr. Mohyuddin Wani, Chief Secretary of GB, attended the event and spoke on the stigma associated with mental illness and the lack of secure places where people can go for support. He expressed hope that the Taskeen helpline will provide a confidential and secure setting for people to discuss their problems and get support from qualified professionals.
Recent research have shown that anxiety and depression are common in Pakistan. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that women are disproportionately impacted by mental disorders, which account for about 4% of the nation’s overall disease burden. Young adults and women in the perinatal period are particularly at risk; in Pakistan, approximately 40% of perinatal women experience anxiety or depressive disorders.
A third factor to consider is that depression affects about 40% of people who attempt or die by suicide. High suicide rates have been noted recently in GB and Chitral. About 24 million Pakistanis are thought to need mental assistance.
