Sindh Mental Health Authority, Charter for Compassion Pakistan launch helpline for mental health issues

The state of mental health awareness and its services in Pakistan remains a big issue. As the statistics state that in Pakistan, over 15 million people are suffering from some form of mental illness. However, only a small percentage of the people suffering from a mental health condition are able to seek the proper help they need. This is mostly due to the social class differences and general awareness regarding where one can seek the proper help they need; leaving the most vulnerable groups susceptible to mental health conditions that could have a good prognosis, but the failure to seek help on time tilts the scale for them.

These groups include rural areas, children who are out of school, underserved communities, and slums in urban settings. Therefore, keeping in mind the social and class barriers that are wide in Pakistan, Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) and Charter for Compassion, Pakistan (CfC) are proud to announce the implementation of mental health activities in the province of Sindh. The two entities are to join hands with Thar Foundation for the initiation of mental health activities in the province and have signed a joint MoU on 14th April 2022.

The ceremony highlighted the coalition between Sindh Mental Health Authority, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical College, Civil Hospital, Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry, Thar Foundation, and Charter for Compassion. The entities will work under a public-private partnership to provide mental health counseling services to the people in Sindh through SMHA’s UAN Helpline, i.e., 021-111-117-642.

Sindh Mental Health Authority has already inaugurated its helpline services at the Cowasjee Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry and Jinnah Post Graduate Medical College. The helpline caters to different mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, substance abuse, self-harm/suicide, and PTSD. The services are now to be inaugurated at the Civil Hospital in Karachi, and CfC Pakistan is to be the implementing partner for the UAN and will oversee the capacity building, management, of the psychologists and the call service through its elaborate health information management system under its mental health program.

Amin Hashwani said “Charter for Compassion is excited to partner with the government for the mental health of people in Sindh. We look forward to working with SMHA and its affiliated hospitals.”

Dr. Karim Ahmed Khawaja Said “We look forward to working with CfC Pakistan in relation to mental health and well-being. We hope this step would lead to increased awareness regarding mental health in the people of Sindh and enable them to get the help they need.”

Naseer Memon said “Thar Foundation is excited to partner with SMHA and Charter for Compassion for the well-being of people in Tharparkar.

About Sindh Mental Health Authority:

SMHA is a Governmental authority which regulates the matters relating to the mental health issues of the people with respect to the care, treatment, and management. The Sindh Mental Health Authority was established on August, 2017 for implementation of Sindh Mental Health Authority Act 2013 as approved by Sindh assembly in 2013. Senator Dr. Karim Ahmed Khawaja was appointed as the first Chairman of Authority.

The Sindh Assembly took lead in approving the legislation through Act in Sindh Province.

For more details visit: https://smha.sindh.gov.pk

Facebook: Sindh Mental Health Authority

Twitter: SindhMentalHealthAuthority

About Charter for Compassion, Pakistan:

The Charter for Compassion Pakistan is a cooperative effort to restore not only compassionate thinking but, more importantly, compassionate action as the center of our lives. Charter for Compassion Society of Pakistan (CfC) with its 05 Women Empowerment centers which has helped over 2000 females, over 45 schools in different districts of Sindh with more than 30,000 students along with some other initiatives in Health sector and volunteer programs has catered over 50,000 beneficiaries in collaboration with local and international donors.

About Charter for Compassion, Mental Health Project:

A mental health program by Charter for Compassion Pakistan that aims at providing high-quality consultancy and therapy to all segments of society. It also aims to create mental health awareness and mitigate the issues faced by the Pakistani society.

For more details about CfC please visit: https://charterforcompassion.org.pk/CfC2021

Facebook: CFCPak

Twitter: CfCpak