KARACHI: Mental health professionals have said that there is a strong need that the government and general public to seriously remove stigmas related to the burden of Epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and depression. Addressing a media briefing organized at Karachi Press Club in the backdrop of World Mental Health Day Dr Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Professor of Psychiatry at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) said that a huge smirch is associated with Epilepsy as it is still considered a taboo, while Parkinson symptoms are considered as a general ageing process and not diagnosed accurately. General misconception of being addicted to the medication for life if treatment for depression is started should be warded off. Dr Shahid Mustafa, consultant and Director Neuro care Aga Khan University Hospital said that it affects 50 million peoples worldwide, 5 million of whom have seizures more than once a month. He said life time prevalence of Epilepsy is 2-4% whereas the chance of having at least one seizure during a life time is 8%. The incidence of Epilepsy is higher in children and the elderly.