Devil Soul
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‘20 million Pakistanis suffering from mental illness’
ISLAMABAD: More than 20 million people in Pakistan, which is around 10pc of the total population, suffer from neurological problems and disorders.
Despite this number being much higher than people suffering from heart diseases, cancer or diabetes, mental health remains the most neglected field in Pakistan.
On the occasion of Lundbeck’s 100th anniversary held at Denmark Embassy, Pakistan, its Country Manager Aslam Shaikh stressed the need to promote public awareness for improved diagnosis and effective mental health treatment in Pakistan. “In Pakistan, it is very unfortunate that due to shortage of mental health professionals, mental health facilities and relatively low levels of awareness about mental disorders, millions of people and their families suffer every day”, said Aslam Sheikh. He also noted that in countries where people are facing social and security challenges there is an increase in anxiety, stress, and trauma, which are contributing factors to the development of mental health issues.
Shaikh shared that Lundbeck established the Lundbeck Institute in 1997 to help reduce the global burden of brain disease by educating healthcare professionals worldwide – and that they were also working with mental health professionals in Pakistan to raise awareness, reduce stigma and contribute to education and better understanding of brain disease in Pakistan. He thanked the Embassy of Denmark for hosting Lundbeck’s 100th anniversary and using the event to create a platform to promote awareness about mental health, the socio-economic costs of brain diseases and the importance of proper mental health treatment in Pakistan.
Addressing the guests, Denmark Embassy Charge d’Affaires Helle Nielsen said, “Lundbeck is an excellent example of a company that provides sophisticated pharmaceutical remedies to people all over the world. Even today, 100 years later, Lundbeck continues to develop products that help patients and societal progression. For any company, the ability to stay relevant and provide value to customers for a century is an extraordinary accomplishment. By hosting this anniversary, we want to acknowledge how Lundbeck has helped hundreds of millions of people and how they have set out to be authentic and true to their values and roots.”
On the occasion, Head of Institute of Psychiatry Prof Fareed Aslam Minhas said that there was a need for collaborative efforts to reduce stigma of mental health in the society. “There is a need for integration of health professionals, industry and policy makers to devise a strategy for better mental health in Pakistan”, said Minhas. He also appreciated Lundbeck for its active role in raising awareness, understanding and training of mental health in Pakistan by fostering the development of new therapies focusing on better treatment for patients suffering from psychiatric illness.
Lundbeck is the only pharmaceutical companies in the world dedicated and focused on research within neuroscience and development and marketing of treatments for brain disease. Lundbeck is worldwide recognised for having helped hundreds of millions of people suffering from brain disease. Lundbeck has been operational in Pakistan over the past 30 years.
Prominent psychiatrics, doctors, health officials and other key stakeholders attended the event.
‘20 million Pakistanis suffering from mental illness’
- Staff Report
- September 21, 2015
ISLAMABAD: More than 20 million people in Pakistan, which is around 10pc of the total population, suffer from neurological problems and disorders.
Despite this number being much higher than people suffering from heart diseases, cancer or diabetes, mental health remains the most neglected field in Pakistan.
On the occasion of Lundbeck’s 100th anniversary held at Denmark Embassy, Pakistan, its Country Manager Aslam Shaikh stressed the need to promote public awareness for improved diagnosis and effective mental health treatment in Pakistan. “In Pakistan, it is very unfortunate that due to shortage of mental health professionals, mental health facilities and relatively low levels of awareness about mental disorders, millions of people and their families suffer every day”, said Aslam Sheikh. He also noted that in countries where people are facing social and security challenges there is an increase in anxiety, stress, and trauma, which are contributing factors to the development of mental health issues.
Shaikh shared that Lundbeck established the Lundbeck Institute in 1997 to help reduce the global burden of brain disease by educating healthcare professionals worldwide – and that they were also working with mental health professionals in Pakistan to raise awareness, reduce stigma and contribute to education and better understanding of brain disease in Pakistan. He thanked the Embassy of Denmark for hosting Lundbeck’s 100th anniversary and using the event to create a platform to promote awareness about mental health, the socio-economic costs of brain diseases and the importance of proper mental health treatment in Pakistan.
Addressing the guests, Denmark Embassy Charge d’Affaires Helle Nielsen said, “Lundbeck is an excellent example of a company that provides sophisticated pharmaceutical remedies to people all over the world. Even today, 100 years later, Lundbeck continues to develop products that help patients and societal progression. For any company, the ability to stay relevant and provide value to customers for a century is an extraordinary accomplishment. By hosting this anniversary, we want to acknowledge how Lundbeck has helped hundreds of millions of people and how they have set out to be authentic and true to their values and roots.”
On the occasion, Head of Institute of Psychiatry Prof Fareed Aslam Minhas said that there was a need for collaborative efforts to reduce stigma of mental health in the society. “There is a need for integration of health professionals, industry and policy makers to devise a strategy for better mental health in Pakistan”, said Minhas. He also appreciated Lundbeck for its active role in raising awareness, understanding and training of mental health in Pakistan by fostering the development of new therapies focusing on better treatment for patients suffering from psychiatric illness.
Lundbeck is the only pharmaceutical companies in the world dedicated and focused on research within neuroscience and development and marketing of treatments for brain disease. Lundbeck is worldwide recognised for having helped hundreds of millions of people suffering from brain disease. Lundbeck has been operational in Pakistan over the past 30 years.
Prominent psychiatrics, doctors, health officials and other key stakeholders attended the event.
‘20 million Pakistanis suffering from mental illness’
