MITHI: Whereas Sindh’s 20 out of 30 districts do not have mental health services provision, one of the most unprivileged districts, Tharparkar has taken lead to initiate by providing sustained mental health services in the district through a network of the health workforce.
This was announced by the Chairman of the Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA), Senator Dr. Karim Khawaja during a concluding ceremony of 3-day training workshop on ‘Telehelp Services on Mental Health’ held here on Wednesday.
The services will connect mental health patients with health practitioners at various levels through a network of lady health workers working across Tharparkar villages.
Dr. Khawaja said that is a multi-stakeholder partnership between SMHA, Thar Foundation, Health Dept. Govt of Sindh, Civil Hospital Mithi, Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences Hyderabad (SCIPBS) and Liaquat University of Medical & Health Licenses (LUMHS).
He said they will launch first-ever data on the state of mental health in Sindh next month which will reveal astonishing figures on the issue.
“Mental health service is the less attentive area across Pakistan, which needs immediate attention. Currently, he added, Sindh’s 20 districts have no specialist physiatrists working in the public sector.
The Telehelp service will contribute by setting up counselling services in the local language through a trained health workforce and qualified practitioners, a mobile app for monitoring and reporting of vulnerable cases, and other logistical support and referring seriously ailing patients to district headquarters and Hyderabad if required.
