One in three Pakistani adults faces mental health disorder, study finds

Pakistan’s first nationally representative mental health survey has revealed that nearly one in three adults in the country is living with a diagnosable mental or behavioural disorder. The findings highlight the growing need for accessible mental healthcare and stronger support systems across the country.

The five-year study, conducted between 2018 and 2022, involved nearly 18,000 adults from all four provinces. Researchers described it as the most comprehensive national assessment of mental health in Pakistan. The findings have been published in the British Medical Journal.

The research was led by Professor Raza-ur-Rahman of Hamdard University in Karachi, in collaboration with Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the United Kingdom, the University of South Florida in the United States and psychiatric institutions across Pakistan.

According to the survey, 32 per cent of adults were experiencing a mental or behavioural disorder at the time of assessment. Meanwhile, 38 per cent had experienced such a condition at some point in their lives.

The findings also revealed a significant burden of specific mental health conditions. Around one in five adults met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while more than one in 10 experienced depression. In addition, six per cent of respondents reported having suicidal thoughts during the month preceding the assessment.

Researchers found that mental health challenges were not equally distributed across society. Older adults, people with limited education, low-income individuals and unemployed people faced a greater risk of psychological disorders. Widowed, divorced and separated individuals were also among the groups reporting higher rates of mental health problems.

The consequences extended beyond individual wellbeing. Mental health conditions were associated with difficulties in family life, strained social relationships and reduced ability to work. These effects underline how psychological disorders can influence both personal lives and the country’s wider social and economic development.

Professor Raza-ur-Rahman said the findings provide an important evidence base for developing effective mental health policies and services. He noted that the research identifies vulnerable groups, highlights areas where support is most urgently required and demonstrates the scale of unmet mental healthcare needs.

The researchers used internationally recognised assessment tools to ensure the reliability of the survey. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics also helped identify survey areas and determine the appropriate sample size.

Experts believe the findings could help policymakers plan services more effectively, direct resources towards vulnerable communities and improve access to diagnosis and treatment. The research may also help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, which often prevents people from seeking professional support.

Professor Anjum Memon, a senior co-author of the study and Chair in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, described the research as a major development in Pakistan’s mental health sector. He said policymakers had previously relied largely on smaller local studies and international estimates to understand the country’s mental health situation.

The national survey now offers a more comprehensive picture of the prevalence of mental and behavioural disorders. Its findings could also provide useful evidence for other low- and middle-income countries facing similar healthcare challenges.

However, Pakistan continues to face major obstacles in providing mental healthcare. These include a shortage of trained mental health professionals, limited specialist facilities and inadequate access to treatment in many communities.

Professor Wajid Akhundzada, president of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society, said the findings could guide future policy decisions, workforce training and the development of community-based support programmes.

Researchers have called for mental health services to be integrated more effectively into primary healthcare. They have also stressed the need for greater investment in community support, improved training for frontline healthcare workers and sustained public awareness campaigns.