ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will launch the Mobile App/Web Portal and 1166 Toll-Free Helpline on March 23, 2023.
In a Follow-Up Meeting on Mental Health presided over by President Dr. Arif Alvi at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Thursday, the Head of Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit Salman Sufi briefed the participants about the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to launch Humraaz, a platform to access mental health services, and a Mental Health Helpline to assist the people affected by mental health illnesses.
Salman Sufi informed that 140 psychiatrists have been registered as yet to provide relevant mental health services and counselling to the people suffering from mental health problems.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کی زیرِ صدارت ایوانِ صدر میں ذہنی صحت کےحوالےسےاجلاس
اجلاس میں وزیراعظم اسٹریٹجک ریفارمز یونٹ کے سربراہ سلمان صوفی اورماہرین نفسیات کی بذریعہ ویڈیولنک شرکت
دماغی صحت بڑاچیلنج ہے،ملکی ذہنی صحت کی ضروریات پوراکرنےکیلئےمربوط نقطہ نظرکی ضرورت ہے،صدرمملکت pic.twitter.com/KOojrY2aWt
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 9, 2023
The Country Director of WHO Dr. Palitha Mahipala, President of Pakistani-American Psychiatric Association of North America Muhammad Zeeshan, the Consultant at the National Commission for Human Rights Ghulam Murtaza, representatives of Pakistan Psychological Association, and Senior Officials of the government were present during the meeting.
The Head of Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit Salman Sufi, and representatives of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society and Taskeen Health Initiative attended the meeting via video link.
The participants emphasized the need for a collaborative care model to provide services to the people suffering from mental health issues.
In his remarks at the meeting, President Arif Alvi said that mental health illness is a major challenge and it requires integrated approach by all stakeholders including relevant Ministries, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, NGOs, psychiatric associations and civil society to cater to the mental health needs of the Country.
The president highlighted that 24% population of the Country is suffering from some form of mental health issues that need immediate attention of the government, health professionals, civil society organizations, and the media.
President Arif Alvi underscored that all programs and initiatives with regard to mental health issues need to be combined to help address mental issues in the Country.
Appreciating the initiative taken by the prime minister on mental health and well-being, the president said that coordination with the Prime Minister’s Office was very important, adding that all the work should be pooled at the Prime Minister’s Mental Health Program.
The president also lauded the efforts made by the NGOs and Taskeen Health Initiative that have done a tremendous job in this regard.
The Country Director of WHO praised the efforts made by the government and expressed his support for the initiative.
