Nearly one in three Pakistani adults is living with a mental or behavioral disorder, according to the country’s first nationally representative mental health survey.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, surveyed nearly 18,000 adults across all four provinces between 2018 and 2022.
The findings revealed that 32% of adults currently have a mental or behavioral disorder, while 38% have experienced one at some point in their lives.
One in five adults was found to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while more than 10% suffered from depression. The survey also found that 6% of respondents had experienced suicidal thoughts in the previous month.
Mental health disorders were more common among older adults, unemployed individuals, people with lower income and education levels, and those who were widowed, divorced, or separated.
The study also found that mental health problems significantly affected people’s family lives, social relationships, and ability to work.
The five-year research was led by Professor Raza-ur-Rahman of Hamdard University, Karachi, in collaboration with international researchers and psychiatric institutions across Pakistan.
Professor Raza-ur-Rahman said the findings provide reliable national data that can help authorities identify vulnerable groups, improve mental health services, and allocate healthcare resources more effectively.
He added that the research could also help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and improve access to diagnosis and treatment.
Professor Anjum Memon of Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK, who co-authored the study, said Pakistan had previously relied on smaller local studies and international estimates to assess mental health conditions.
He described the survey as a major milestone that provides a clearer picture of the scale of mental health disorders in the country.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Psychiatric Society President Professor Wajid Akhundzada highlighted the shortage of trained mental health professionals and limited specialist services in Pakistan.
Researchers recommended integrating mental health services into primary healthcare, expanding community-based support, training frontline healthcare workers, and increasing efforts to reduce stigma around mental illness.
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