In an effort to improve the well-being of citizens and remove the taboo around mental health, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the launch of the government’s first mental health assistance application, Humraaz, and an integrated helpline on World Health Day.
The app offers a range of features such as psychotherapy, daily-activity monitoring, connection with professionals, chatbots, WhatsApp support, and appointment booking. The initiative also invites psychologists and psychiatrists to register on the app and join the government’s project.
This move follows President Dr. Arif Alvi’s call for joint efforts from stakeholders, including the federal and provincial governments, the community, and health professionals, to work towards the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. Alvi expressed his concern that 24% of Pakistan’s population is suffering from mental health-related issues, while there are only 500 to 600 mental health professionals available in the country to cater to their needs.
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In addition to increasing the number of mental health professionals, Alvi also emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of general health professionals by training them to address the challenge of rising mental health disorders. The president chaired a meeting on mental health via video link.
With the launch of Humraaz and the integrated helpline, Pakistan is taking a significant step towards addressing the mental health crisis in the country and providing accessible support to those in need.
