Community mental health services in Pakistan: Review study from Muslim world 2000-2015

Abstract

Aim This study attempted to analyse the potential of two primary sources of mental health service delivery at a grassroots level, religious/faith healers and community/lady health workers, and how they can be effectively used to deliver mental health services in a resource-scarce country like Pakistan. Method A literature review was carried out for relevant studies conducted in Muslim countries between 2000 to 2015 reporting empirical results. Using the inclusion criteria, thirteen studies were selected for the review. Results The presented studies suggest that the main proportion of mental health patients in countries with major Muslim population including Pakistan, visit religious/faith healers first for treatment, however all studies are silent about the outcomes through these healers. The only potential visible outcome of contacting religious/faith healers is the identification of mental health cases. However, community/lady health workers with minimal training appeared to be a beneficial source of mental health service delivery in communities. Conclusion In a resource scarce country like Pakistan, networking with religious/faith healers can be established for effective identification and referral of mental health cases whereas strong and already existing community/lady health workers system can be used as a first level to deliver mental health service at the doorstep.

A Cross-Sectional Survey of Pakistani Muslims Coping with Health Anxiety through Religiosity during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Our findings show that health anxiety has a positive relationship with religious coping, confirming that Muslims in Pakistan who suffer from pandemic-induced anxiety use religiosity as a coping strategy to deal with life circumstances. Past scholars corroborate that religious coping is a salient factor in helping people during health-related crises (Ali et al 2018;Sohail 2018;Sohail et al 2019;Zamanian et al 2015). Local research has also confirmed that youth in Pakistan turn to religion when attempting to cope with the pandemic and altered life circumstances (Salman et al 2020).…”

Cross Sectional Survey of Pakistani Muslims Coping Health Anxiety through Religiosity during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The unavailability of psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and social workers makes a large population of 220 million people vulnerable to miserable life (Bashir, 2018). Studies conducted in Muslim majority countries including Pakistan suggest that people suffering from psychiatric problems improvise faith healing for treatment (Ali & Gul, 2018). However, all the studies currently conducted on mental health issues are ignoring religious and spiritual aspects of coping with a few exceptions.…”

Efficacy of eye movement desensitization & reprocessing versus cognitive behavioral therapy in Post-Traumatic Stress and Depressive Symptoms: Study protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…PTSD often exists with comorbid Depressive Symptoms across various epidemiological samples [33]. Pakistan is continually suffering from the war on terrorism [9]. Such circumstances have created breeding grounds for PTSD in Pakistan.…”

“…Such rise in the mental illnesses is due to increasing domestic violence, coupled by poverty and cultural constraints. Moreover, Pakistan is continually suffering from the war on terrorism [9]. These conditions have created breeding grounds for PTSD in Pakistan.…”