Medical disclaimer: This article reports on Pakistan's national mental health survey for information only. It is not medical advice. Mental health conditions need professional assessment and treatment — always consult a qualified doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist. If someone shows signs of self-harm or talks about suicide, treat it as an emergency: do not leave them alone and get help immediately from a doctor or your nearest hospital.

Pakistan's Mental Health Crisis: New Survey Finds 1 in 3 Adults Affected

Nearly one in three adults in Pakistan is living with a diagnosable mental or behavioural disorder, according to the country's first nationally representative mental health survey — published in the British Medical Journal on October 18, 2026. For families caring for elderly parents at home, the findings carry a direct message: mental health support at home is no longer optional, it is overdue.

What the survey found

The five-year study is the largest and most comprehensive mental health research ever conducted in Pakistan, led by Professor Raza-ur-Rahman of Hamdard University, Karachi, in collaboration with Brighton and Sussex Medical School (UK), the University of South Florida (US), and psychiatric institutions across Pakistan, with researchers representing the Pakistan Psychiatric Society. Nearly 18,000 adults from all four provinces took part between 2018 and 2022, and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics identified the survey areas and sample size.

• 32% of adults were living with a mental or behavioural disorder at the time of the survey.
• 38% had experienced a mental or behavioural disorder at some point in their lifetime.
• 1 in 5 adults met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• More than 1 in 10 adults had depression.
• 6% reported suicidal thoughts in the previous month.

Who is most affected?

The researchers found clear social inequalities in mental health. Higher rates of mental disorders appeared among:

• Older adults — the group most likely to be under home care already
• People with lower education and income, and the unemployed
• Widowed, divorced or separated individuals — isolation is a recurring risk factor

Mental health problems were associated with substantial impairment in family life, social relationships, and the ability to work — a reminder that these conditions affect entire households, not just individuals.

Why this matters for families caring for elderly parents

For families with elderly parents living at home, two findings from the survey stand out:

First, older adults carry some of the highest rates of mental disorders. An aging parent who becomes withdrawn, irritable, forgetful, or loses interest in daily life may not simply be "getting old" — these can be signs of depression, anxiety, or early cognitive decline that deserve professional evaluation.

Second, Pakistan faces a severe shortage of mental health care. Professor Wajid Akhundzada, president of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society, acknowledged that the country has limited specialist services and a shortage of trained mental health professionals. The researchers recommend integrating mental health services into primary health care, investing in community-based support systems, training frontline health workers, and combating the stigma around mental illness. Until those systems are built, the burden falls on families — and on home-based care.

What families can do at home

• Talk openly and without judgment — the survey's authors say stigma is one of the biggest barriers to care. Normalise treatment the way you would for diabetes or blood pressure.
• Keep routines stable — regular sleep, meals, and gentle daily activity help stabilise mood, especially in elderly patients.
• Watch medication closely — missed or wrong doses of psychiatric medication are a common cause of relapse. A simple daily medication chart on the fridge works.
• Accompany them to appointments — patients with depression or anxiety often miss follow-ups; a family member or nurse makes continuity far more likely.
• Do not ignore physical symptoms — depression in the elderly often shows up as fatigue, body aches, or loss of appetite rather than sadness.

How home nursing helps with mental health at home

The survey's central message is that mental health care must reach people where they live — through community-based and home-based support. This is exactly where professional home nursing fits:

• Daily monitoring — a trained nurse notices early warning signs of relapse or crisis before they escalate
• Medication management — ensuring psychiatric medications are taken correctly and on time
• Companionship — reducing the isolation that drives so many of the survey's risk factors
• Family respite — caring for someone with a mental health condition is exhausting; a nurse gives caregivers a break
• Coordination with doctors — reporting changes to the treating psychiatrist so treatment stays on track

As lead investigator Professor Raza-ur-Rahman said, the survey "identifies who is most at risk, where support is most needed, and the scale of the unmet need for care." For Pakistan's families, professional home nursing is one of the most practical ways to fill that gap — starting today.