Islamabad

Pakistan grapples with a disturbing trend as there are estimated 50-55 suicides every day, with 70% of victims being young people between the age of 15 and 29 years. 

Advertisment

Mental health experts warn that suicide has become the fourth leading cause of death among this age group.

The experts quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), said 19,331 suicidal deaths were reported in 2019 in Pakistan, of which 14,771 were males and 4,560 were females.

Also read: China denounces UK's spying accusation on three Hong Kong nationals

Advertisment

“Academic pressure, family disputes, and lack of economic opportunities, highlighting the cumulative stress young people face. Cyber bullying, excessive social media use, and substance abuse are to blame for,” said Dr. Syed Usman Hamdani, Founding Director, Global Institute of Human Development-Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (GIHD-STMU, during a debate.

The debate titled “Mapping Youth Mental Health Landscapes: Insights from Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam,” was organised by the GIHD-STMU at Shifa College of Medicine.

Experts said that in low and middle-income countries like Pakistan, up to 90% of young people’s mental health needs are unmet due to a lack of resources.

Advertisment

According to the mental health landscape analysis conducted in Pakistan, stress, anxiety, depression, drug abuse, suicidal ideations, aggression, hopelessness, helplessness, and lack of confidence are some of the most pressing mental health issues faced by the youth in Pakistan.

Former SAPM Dr. Zafar Mirza said, “Pakistan in addition to political and economic crisis, questioning how youth could be mentally healthy when 40% of children are malnourished and stunted, while millions of children are facing social media crisis.”

Also read: Video: Kamala Harris drops F-bomb, urges youth to 'kick that f***ing door down'

The experts strongly encourages anyone, especially young people struggling with mental health, to seek help without shame.

Dr. Abdul Wahab Yousafzai, head of psychiatry at Shifa International Hospital, said in Malakand division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, over 1,600 people died by suicide between 2018 and 2021.

“As per my research, around 340 people committed suicide in first quarter of 2018 in Malakand division, while in Chitral, 700 people died by suicide in three years. Mostly were adolescents who ended their lives,” Prof. Yousafzai added.

Mental health experts from Indonesia, Egypt, and Vietnam shed light on the challenges faced by young people, alongside efforts undertaken by public and private institutions to address these concerns and improve mental health support systems.

(With inputs from agencies)