World Mental Health Day at AKU on Oct 11

KARACHI: The World Mental Health Day observed on October 11 every year raises public awareness about mental health issues all over the world.

An announcement of the Aga Khan University here said that the Day provides a platform to initiate open discussions on mental disorders and investments in prevention and treatment services.

It pointed out that the treatment gap for mental, neurological and substance-use disorders is formidable, especially in poor-resource countries.

The announcement further said that the Aga Khan University will commemorate World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on October 11 focusing on this year's global theme: `Burden of Care in Mental Illness'.

The WMHD programme will include lectures by specialists on these topics: `Who looks after the mentally ill in Pakistan? by Dr Murad Moosa Khan; `Stigma and mental illness: Time to change’ by Dr Haider Naqvi; `The joy of caring: Social support in care giving' by Dr Nargis Asad; `From compassion to complaints: Stress of caring' by Dr Naila Bhutto; and `I don't want others to know: an alcoholic in the family' by Dr Syed Ahmer.