Daily Times

Lack of awareness about mental illness in Pakistan is symptomatic of the overall regressive social climate of Pakistani society.

Contrary to the common misconception, mental illness can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illness is not an intellectual disability, or not even a ‘disability’.

According to a last year’s study carried out at Karachi’s Aga Khan University (AKU), around 50 million people are suffering from common mental disorders in Pakistan. The illness afflicts 15 to 35 million adults, which is about 10 to 20 percent of the population.

“Approximately 20 million children or 10pc of the population in our country need attention from mental health practitioners,” said Dr Ayesha Mian, chairperson of the department of psychiatry at the AKU.

Twitter users, throughout the day, have been vocal about it by sharing their own thoughts and experiences with mental health and psychiatric illness in an effort to raise awareness.

Twitter is playing a significant role in exploding the stigma that surrounds mental health issues.