Decision made for annual mental health screening of 22,500 medical students

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has decided to make annual mental health screening mandatory for 22,500 medical and dental students, as well as faculty and staff. The initiative aims to provide timely assistance by identifying mental stress and suicide risks at an early stage.

Addressing the Pakistan Global Mental Health Summit 2026, PMDC President Professor Dr. Rizwan Taj stated that this measure would help identify individuals suffering from emotional distress or other mental health issues, enabling the provision of necessary support before their condition deteriorates further.

During the summit, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal also launched the National Mental Health Policy 2026-2035.

Enhanced Mental Health Training in Medical Education

According to Professor Dr. Rizwan Taj, mental health has been established as a distinct and mandatory subject within medical and dental undergraduate curricula.

The Council has increased the instructional time dedicated to mental health from 50 hours to 175 hours, with plans to raise it to 200 hours in the future. The objective is to better equip future doctors and dentists to identify and address mental health issues.

Directive to Establish Mental Health Centers in Colleges

Medical and dental colleges have also been directed to establish basic mental health centers. These centers will provide initial support to students, faculty, staff, and other individuals in need, as well as referrals to relevant services when required. These measures come at a time when concerns have been raised following Pakistan's first nationwide representative psychiatric survey on mental health.

Key mental health statistics from the survey

According to the study, 32.3 percent of adults—approximately one in every three Pakistanis—were suffering from a diagnosable mental or behavioral disorder. In the survey, 6.2 percent of participants reported experiencing suicidal thoughts or related behaviors within the past month, while 1.1 percent stated they had attempted suicide at some point in their lives.

Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, a study co-author and Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, stated that the research findings could guide mental health policymaking, healthcare workforce planning, and the expansion of mental health services at the community level.

Mental Health Measures in Medical Education