Awareness Walk at LGH Marks World Mental Health Day 2025Prof. Farooq Afzal Emphasizes Timely Mental Health Support During Crises

By Staff Reporter Dr. Ansab Ali
LAHORE— Principal of Ameer-ud-Din Medical College (AMC) Prof. Dr. Farooq Afzal underscored the urgent need to prioritize mental health care alongside physical health, particularly during disasters and emergencies. Speaking at an awareness walk and seminar organized at Lahore General Hospital (LGH) to mark World Mental Health Day 2025, he emphasized that timely access to mental health services is vital during crises.

Prof. Afzal also highlighted the role of Islamic values in reducing stress and promoting balance and compassion in society. This year’s World Health Organization (WHO) theme, “Mental Health in Disasters and Emergencies: Access to Services,” focuses on improving mental health response in situations such as natural disasters, pandemics, conflicts, and forced migration.

The event was attended by MS Dr. Faryad Hassan, Head of Psychiatry Dr. Faiza Athar, Prof. Amna Ahsan Cheema, Dr. Laila Shafiq, Dr. Maheen Rizwan, Dr. Asma Gul, and Dr. Rafi Bukhari, along with a large number of doctors, psychologists, nurses, and medical staff.

During the seminar, Dr. Faiza Athar discussed the symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and irritability, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Experts stressed that crises leave lasting psychological scars, calling for mental health to be integrated into all emergency response systems.

Participants held placards promoting mental health as a fundamental human right during the awareness walk. MS Dr. Faryad Hassan commended the Psychiatry Department for organizing the initiative and noted that such programs help foster awareness, empathy, and social resilience.

The event concluded with Prof. Dr. Farooq Afzal visiting patients in the psychiatric ward and distributing gifts as a gesture of solidarity with individuals battling mental health challenges.