ISLAMABAD: While Pakistan is home to about 200 million people, it has one of the poorest mental health indicators, with less than 500 psychiatrists for such a huge population size.

This creates a massive treatment gap, leaving more than 90pc of the people with common mental disorders untreated, said Special Secretary Health Mirza Nasiruddin Mashood Ahmed while speaking to participants of an event organised by the Department of Psychiatry of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in connection with World Mental Health Day.

The theme of the day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health was ‘Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for All a Global Priority’.

Mr Mashood said the day was observed on Oct 10 every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness about mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.