Pakistan Mental Health Initiative
Key Facts
- Estimates show that one in five families in Pakistan struggle with a mental health problem.
- Mental health professionals are scarce in Pakistan. What mental health services exist are urban-based.
- In Pakistan, like many developing countries, the stigma of mental illness leads to people being abandoned or hidden away with few prospects for recovery.
The Pakistan Mental Health Initiative’s Response
The Pakistan Mental Health Initiative aims to enable mentally ill people to become active and productive members of their families and communities through community-based treatment. By addressing the problem holistically — linking mental health with development — the initiative will transform the lives of mentally ill people by tackling their poverty as well as their illness. Targeting Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces, the initiative brings together The British Asian Trust, Aman Foundation and BasicNeeds, the programme delivery partner.
Our Support
Alarmed by the lack of mental health services in Pakistan, The British Asian Trust established The Pakistan Mental Health Initiative after intensive research, field visits and a thorough examination of the mental health sector. The Initiative will replicate BasicNeeds’ highly successful Mental Health and Development Model to make a substantive contribution to the emerging mental health sector in the country.
Charity News & Events
BasicNeeds innovative model of working was “Highly Commended” in the 2011 Charity Awards.
