KARACHI: Expressing serious concern over the widespread prevalence of mental health issues in the country, especially among the youth, speakers at an event held at Karachi University (KU) on Monday emphasised that educational institutions must move beyond traditional academic performance indicators and recognise psychological well-being as an essential component ofstudentsuccess.
They also urged the government to makemental well-being a national development priority. They were speaking at the launch of a mental health and well-being centre on the campus.
According to university officials, the centre will provide free and confidential psychologicalcounselling,therapy and support services to students, faculty members and the administrative staff.
It will also hold awareness programmes, offer preventive interventions and referral services, where needed.
Mental health among most neglected areas In his remarks, Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) Chairman former Senator Dr Karim Ahmed Khawaja, the chief guest at the ceremony, said that mental health remained one of the most neglected areas of public health mainly due to social stigma that fostered deep shame, fear and discrimination.He emphasised the importance of communication, empathy and social support, observing that individuals experiencing emotional distress should not be left isolated. He also offered recommendations on strengthening mental health services at the university.
Dr Khawaja announced that he would facilitate the establishment of a dedicated helpline for KU, similar to the one operating at the Dow University of Health Sciences.
He also assured the university of his support in arranging the necessary equipment and technical expertise to strengthen the centre’s operational capacity.
Addressing the launch, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Wasim Qazi highlighted the alarming scale of mental health challenges in Pakistan and emphasised that psychological well-being must become a national development priority.
Citing available estimates, he observedthat approximately 37 per cent of people across different age groups in the country experienced some form of mental stress, psychological complication or mental health disorder.
Mental well-being critical to national development Prof Qazi stressed that mental health was nolonger anissue thatcouldbe treated asa private or secondary concern. ‘It has direct implications on educational outcomes, economic productivity, social stability and the overall development of society,’ he said, adding that nations could not aspire to achieve excellence in education, research and innovation without addressing people’s ment al well-being.
He pointed out that KU had over 47,000 students, in addition to a substantial teaching and non-teaching workforce.
‘Given the scale and diversity of this uni-versity community, providing accessible psychological support, early intervention and professional counselling is among my foremost priorities,’ he said.
The varsity, he added, aimed to develop the centre into a comprehensive institutional support system and a potential model for other higher education institutions across Pakistan, reinforcing the principle that educational excellence must go hand in hand with the mental health and well-being of the university community.
He also identified inadequate basic life facilities, increasing social pressures and the unregulated use of social media as contributing factors behind individual isolation, emotional distress and psychological difficulties, particularly among the youth.
‘We must nurture mentally healthy, balanced, confident and socially responsible individuals who can contribute positively to society. The establishment of this centre is a concrete manifestation of that commitment,’ he said, stressing the need to identify psychological issues at an early stage and foster an institutional culture in which seeking professional help was considered a sign of responsibility rather than weakness.
The VC mentioned that a mobile application would soon be launched to connect students, teachers and non-teaching staff with the mental health and well-being centre, allowing them to approach experts confidentially and discuss their problems.
‘Over 50m Pakistanis experience psychological trauma’ Later, Prof Ziasma Haneef Khan of KU’s Department of Psychology addressed a workshop where she elaborated on the university’s mental health initiative and its operational framework.
She referred to estimates suggesting that more than 50 million people in Pakistan experienced psychological trauma, depressionand anxiety disorders, while nearly one in four adolescents and university-age young people may require psychological assistance.
She emphasised that educational institutions must move beyond traditional academic performance indicators and recognise psychological well-being as an essential component of student success.
She explained that warning signs such as prolonged silence, an unusual decline in academic performance, repeated delays in assignment submissions and withdrawal from social interactionshould not simply be dismissed as disinterest or irresponsibility.
‘These behaviours may indicate underlying stress, fear or other psychological difficulties requiring timely attention and support,’ she told the audience.
She further explained that contemporary approaches to mental health extend beyond the diagnosis and treatment of disorders.
They encompassed positive emotions, a sense of purpose, meaningful relationships, self-confidence, resilience and overall physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being, she noted.