ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has established a special mental health support unit as part of its emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Planning, which oversees the initiative, said on Sunday.
All over the world, rates of mental illness, particularly related to coronavirus restrictions, have increased since the beginning of the pandemic.
While research on the psychological impact of COVID-19 on Pakistanis is still limited, the outbreak, which started in February 2019, and ensuing restrictions have led to problems such as unemployment, closure of schools, limited socialization, and disruption in many routine activities — all likely to increase the psychological burden of the population.
The special UNICEF-funded unit is going to provide psychological support and also study the impact of the pandemic on mental health.
“Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives has launched a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) unit as a part of its emergency response to COVID-19, which is funded by UNICEF Pakistan,” the ministry said in a series of tweets.
1/5: Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives has launched a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) unit as a part of its emergency response to COVID-19, which is funded by UNICEF Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/9nEP7Y2fJP
— M/o Planning Development & Special Initiatives (@PlanComPakistan) July 11, 2021
“The aim of the initiative is to develop evidence-driven MHPSS model which is right-based, scalable & sustainable,” the ministry said, adding that it would also raise awareness about mental wellbeing and address the problem of stigmatization of infected persons.
It plans to focus on vulnerable groups and families who lost their loved ones to the coronavirus.
4/5: The unit would also provide psychosocial support to the most vulnerable population groups including women and children at risk, bereaved families, and people with disabilities
Provide mental healthcare for those suffering from mental disorders— M/o Planning Development & Special Initiatives (@PlanComPakistan) July 11, 2021
The country of around 220 million people has so far largely escaped the worst of the pandemic, with under a million recorded infections and around 22,500 deaths — although cases are on the rise again in what officials describe as the fourth wave of the pandemic.
The daily positivity rate jumped to 4 percent on Sunday, from 1.79 percent on June 28, as Pakistan reported 1,980 new cases — more than 1,700 new infections for a fourth straight day.
