Tharparkar's mental health conundrum: Awareness and education key
By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: A staggering 70% of people surveyed in Tharparkar, Sindh, believe that mental illness is contagious, according to a research study conducted by the Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA). The study, which aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of mental health among Tharparkar residents, revealed alarming misconceptions and a lack of awareness about mental health issues. The research team, led by Dr Abduk Razzaque Nohri of the Sindh Health Department, presented their findings at a ceremony held at the PMA House in Karachi on December 11. The study involved 5,378 respondents from all seven talukas of Tharparkar and was conducted over a period of three months. Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, a member of the National Assembly and chairman of the National Health Services Regulation and Coordination committee, Islamabad, presided over the event, with Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Prof Dr Mohammad Saeed Qureshy as chief g...