In the midst of a pandemic, authorities continue to work on improving the standard of medical care so that all bodily ailments can be treated immediately, no matter the intensity. Completely neglecting the hardships that come from mental illnesses is not an option. Suicide rates have steadily increased according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), evident from a total of 1735 deaths in 2020 alone. The apathy shown towards hidden illnesses must be counteracted as the situation becomes more concerning.
The economic ramifications of the lockdowns implemented have been a major cause of stress and depression for those who have lost their jobs, practitioners working in hospitals, Covid-19 patients, victims of now intensified domestic abuse and those that experienced a deterioration in their quality of life. There is no system in place to help members of the public deal with the mental trauma that such an environment has perpetuated. Already, there was a lack of awareness about mental health as most have been unable to grasp how severe it can get. The logic is that if it cannot be seen then it does not exist.
Furthermore, Section 325 of the Penal Code of Pakistan criminalises suicide which often leads to people either not reporting it, or allows for a major impediment to be created in studies to determine the psychological state of those affected with mental illnesses. This means that the number of suicides is likely to be much higher and that the law makes it impossible to propose targeted solutions because the research needed to understand the causes behind each case is unavailable or unattainable.
An immediate solution is needed to rescue the country from the grips of depression and individuals from suicidal tendencies. A suicide prevention act that provides the right avenues for the public to seek help should be introduced. The taboo around going to therapy must be destroyed and those in need should be facilitated with subsidised, if not free, sessions. Suicide prevention hotlines should be opened for those in need of immediate assistance. Schools should make it a priority to incorporate mental health awareness programmes in their curriculums and the government must consider decriminalising suicide simultaneously.