International Models of Emergency Psychiatric Care: Pakistan

Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world. Rapid population growth, limited resources, and political and social instability have created a tremendous need for mental health services, including emergency psychiatric care. Currently, there are almost no emergency psychiatric services in Pakistan due to a limited mental health budget, a limited number of qualified mental health professionals for such a large population, and no specialized emergency psychiatric care providers. In response to this need, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently started a pilot program called the Mental Health Gap Action Program (MHGAP) to improve services for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in Pakistan.