Public awareness of psychological problems in Pakistan
ISSN: 1361-9322
Article publication date: 24 February 2020
Issue publication date: 20 March 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Awareness of psychological problems is essential to address the problems adequately. It also contributes positively in the overall psychosocial well-being of a society. The rates of mental health literacy have been investigated in many countries and have been found to be lower than expected. The purpose of this study was to explore public awareness of psychological problems and psychological treatment in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study explored the latest levels of public awareness of psychological problems in the country by involving 3,500 respondents from five major cities. The sample of the study was sufficiently rich to represent Pakistanis based on gender, age, education, profession and income. Data were gathered from 3,500 respondents through interviews and a self-respondent questionnaire.
Findings
The study revealed that the awareness of psychological problems in Pakistan was 36 per cent. Several significant variations were also found based on different demographic factors. The study also revealed that 42.17 per cent of the respondents were aware of psychotherapy as a possible way of treating psychological problems followed by their awareness of social support (17.29 per cent), medicine (16.74 per cent), supernatural practices (6.29 per cent), religious practices (5.60 per cent) and self-help (3.57 per cent).
Practical implications
As a result of the findings of unsatisfactory levels of public awareness of psychological problems, this paper has implications for mental health practitioners and policymakers to play their active part in improving the situation.
Originality/value
The current study is the first large-scale study in the country.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Ethical Statement: The ethical approval was granted by the departmental review committee at the Department of Humanities, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan. All the procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interest with the publishing journal.Funding: The study was not funded by any source.Originality: The authors state that the current study is original and has not been submitted anywhere else.
Citation
Husain, W. and Faize, F.A. (2020), "Public awareness of psychological problems in Pakistan", Mental Health Review Journal, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-09-2019-0033
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited