MENTAL health in Pakistan has long been treated as a peripheral concern, despite its profound human, social and economic consequences.

Current estimates suggest that one in five Pakistanis will experience a mental health condition during their lifetime. Yet more than 90 per cent of those affected are unlikely ever to receive treatment. The economic burden is striking: from Rs. 250 billion in 2006, it has more than doubled to over Rs. 616 billion in 2020. Despite this, allocations for mental health remain under half a percent of the national health budget. The mismatch between need and investment has left the country grappling with a silent but acute public health emergency.

The drivers of this crisis are both structural and situational. Political instability, declining household incomes and persistent unemployment have created conditions of prolonged stress. Suicide has become a particularly worrying indicator, especially among young people—more than 70% of reported cases involve individuals between the ages of 10 and 30. Women are also disproportionately affected. In Gilgit-Baltistan, the suicide rate among women is among the highest documented in the region, pointing to deep social and cultural vulnerabilities. Climate shocks have further aggravated the situation. The 2022 floods not only displaced millions but also destroyed livelihoods, schools and healthcare infrastructure, leaving lasting scars on affected communities.........

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