RAFIA Zakaria in her article, `An almost happy country` (Sept 20), rightly said that countries where mental illness is either ignored or ridiculed can never top the happiness index.
Happiness is the sum of one`s overall mental health. However, in Pakistan, suggesting those suffering from mental problems to visit a psychiatrist usually irks them.
Those who dare to visit are mostly ridiculed because a psychiatrist in our society is defined as `a doctor for mad people` and, of course, no one would like to be called insane.
A country where visiting a psychiatrist is considered a taboo, finding mentally fit people will be dif ficult. Awareness in this regard is of paramount importance.
