Poverty, lawlessness, load shedding major causes of rise in mental diseases in Pakistan

Medical experts have said that due to worsening poverty, price hike, lawlessness and load shedding depression and other mental diseases are increasing amongst the Pakistanis. They warned the situation might further deteriorate if appropriate measures are not taken by the government. In-charge of department of psychology at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Professor Iqbal Afridi said that the resent terrorist attacks on law enforcement agencies have spread a panic among the people. He said depression and mental illnesses are on the rise in country. He said that the electricity load shedding in the country and growing poverty and inflation had also baldly affected the mental health of people. Assistant Professor at department of psychology, Civil Hospital Karachi, Dr. Riza-ur-Rehman said that the number of people suffering from depression in the world including Pakistan is on a constant rise. He said that more than hundreds of people suffering from different mental diseases visit OPD of Civil Hospital Karachi and their number grows with every passing day. Dr. Hameera Afzal of Liaqat National Hospital said that the present tense situation in the city also affected the mental health of schoolchildren who feel themselves unsecured while going to schools. She said the load shedding of electricity in this hot weather is a major tormentor of Karachiites. The experts said the government should take decisive steps to end load shedding and improve the economy of the country to get citizens rid of these persisting problems.

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