Karwan-e-Hayat (KeH) celebrates Mental Health Day every year with a colorful activity holding art & crafts and cooking stuff made by KeH staff and patients plus a counseling session on the subject. The objective of 2018’s moot on World Mental Health Day, at Karwan-e-Hayat, was to bring all stakeholders on one platform and design a synchronized methodology, building awareness against this STRONG TABOO hence our aim #BreaktheStigma

The wonderful speakers of the event were Dr. Muhammad Usman Chachar, Additional Chief Secretary, Ministry of Health, Government of Sindh, Prof Dr Vali Uddin, Registrar & Dean Faculty of Engineering Sciences & Technology, Hamdard University, Mr Khurram Shahzad, Senior Vice President, KCCI, Mr Naveed Shaikh from UNDP – SDG support unit, Government of Sindh. Mr Kamran Mirza, Chairman KeH, Mr. Zaheeruddin Babar, CEO of Karwan –e-Hayat, Prof Dr. Zafar Haider, Dean and Consultant Psychiatrist, Karwan –e-Hayat Dr Ajmal Kazmi, Consultant Psychiatrist, Karwan e Hayat and Dr Uroosa Talib, Head of Medical Services, KeH.

This year, the theme of Mental Health day is Youth. Pakistan currently has the largest percentage of young people ever recorded in its history, according to the National Human Development Report launched in May by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan; 64% of the total population is below the age of 30 while 29% is between the ages of 15 and 29 years. We are one of the youngest countries in the world and the second youngest in the South Asian region after Afghanistan. This youth bulge will critically impact Pakistan as a country if not dealt appropriately, depending on how the country invests in the youth by providing them with quality education, employment and meaningful engagement opportunities. Sharing the facts, it is said around 20% of the world’s children and adolescents have mental disorders or problems. Mental and substance us disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide.

The taboo associated with mental illness has been Karwan-e-Hayat’s greatest challenge. Karwan has given hope and a better future to thousands of patients.  At KeH we not only treat our patients with medicines, we believe in a holistic approach.