Pakistan is among the top 10 countries in the world concerning population, with around 230 million individuals. The UN Population Fund estimates around 50 % of the total population comprises youth aged 12-25. Pakistan is considered among the countries with one of the highest mental health issues, and around 50 million people suffer from such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic disorder, eating disorder and schizophrenia, which often leads to suicide.
Yet, the research shows that a country with a considerable population and mental issues has a low number of trained psychiatrists and psychologists, and there are around less than 500 psychiatrists for such a populous country. It is unfortunate that in a country with such vast and vibrant youth pollution, the mental health issues among the youth are increasing alarmingly, and people do not even accept it as a significant concern. These mental health issues require immediate attention.
Mental issues are psychological problems that affect people’s thinking and behavior. There may be several reasons why the Youth are facing and battling mental health issues such as work pressure, life struggles, relationship issues, unemployment, inflation, family issues, losing loved ones, child labour, poor academic records, use of drugs and many more.
Unemployment is one of the causes of psychological problems in adults and youth as the job market has become so saturated that most of the youth are unable to find a proper job or get paid too little to meet their expenses. Startup culture is too challenging in the country as society does not encourage the youth much in this regard. Due to the devastating situation of the economy, we can see in our daily lives that child labor is on the rise. The economic conditions push children from lower-income families to work and support their families, causing psychological effects on them.
The failed education system, where the students have to face so much pressure from the educational institute and family, is also causing the stress level to increase among the students. Some opt for the subjects of their parents’ choice and could not perform well. When they fail to meet the expectations of their family, they face mental hazards and go into depression with the uncertainty about their career. These conditions often lead the youth to drugs, looking for mental relief. The use of drugs is increasing alarmingly in Pakistan—however, the long-term use of drugs results in psychological and health problems.
But what’s the foremost hurdle to dealing with mental health problems like stress and depression? When we try to find the answer, I see the norms of our society as the top hurdle. It is a typical sentence we might hear most often: our parents and forefathers never went through such things, and be strong as no such things exist. Boys are especially told they are strong, cannot cry, and cannot express their emotions. They also equate it with masculinity and being strong or weak. When the majority of society is still not ready to accept it as a significant issue, then how can we expect it to resolve or cure mental issues like depression? To cure an issue, first, we need to accept it as a matter of concern.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, depression and anxiety have increased at an alarming rate across the globe. Research shows that individuals with mental health issues have higher chances of physical and social life affecting social well-being. Physically, they appear well but cannot correctly concentrate and give their total output due to their stress level.
The critical question here is why we do not pay much attention to this issue despite the consequences that could be observed in our society. Suicide cases are increasing day by day, and the majority of those who commit suicide are males and youth under 30. World Health Organization (WHO), in a recent statement, mentioned that suicide is the second leading cause of death among the youth of 15 to 29 globally. A report by WHO in 2022 shows more than 15,000 people committed suicide in the year, out of which 25% were teenagers. While in our neighbor, India, 13,000 students committed suicide in 2021. Why a majority of the youth are among those who commit suicide?
Besides the adults and youth, children are also facing mental issues such as increasing stress levels in the form of developmental disorders, anxiety, exam stress, peer pressure, thinking and family’s high expectations. These issues lead to a disorder called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which causes abnormal levels of hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. People with ADHD have low concentration levels, are forgetful about tasks, get distracted easily and may stay idle for too long.
Our thoughts have a profound impact on mental conditions. Sometimes, we think that we are not doing enough, that nothing will go well in our lives, and that we are a loser, and these thoughts affect our mood resulting in physical sensations with low energy. Ultimately, it affects our behaviour, and we start withdrawing from friends and staying alone. Some other reasons for causing mental health issues are mind reading, overgeneralization, emotional reasoning and thinking in absolutes, such as all or nothing; these thoughts must be controlled at the beginning.
Time keeps on passing, but the silent epidemic will not go anywhere. We are to live with it; collective efforts are needed to fight this alarming issue. We need to ask ourselves first what is our mental health conditions and if we feel there is something, we need to talk with our close ones, such as family or friends. If we notice strange behavior in people around us, we need to talk to them and help them to fight by encouraging them. Sometimes, a word of encouragement means a lot to people facing mental issues. One of the causes of such issues is social media, which creates high expectations and unrealistic images of people and society. Unlimited use of social media should be avoided, and a proper sleep schedule is also essential to avoid mental issues like depression. Most important of all, do not deceive yourself. If you are facing mental issues, admit it and try to cure it. There is no shame in it.
