KARACHI: Experts have raised alarm over a growing mental health crisis among Pakistani migrant workers and young people, urging the government to integrate mental health care into national and migration policies. The call came during a media roundtable organized by the Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI).
Pakistan has over 10 million citizens working in Gulf countries, most of them from rural Sindh and Punjab. While their remittances contribute around US$1.2 billion each month to the national economy, nearly 70 percent of returning migrants reportedly suffer from mental distress. Many face difficult working and living conditions abroad, including extreme heat, long hours, and crowded accommodations, with little to no access to mental health support.
Speakers noted that migration is often a last resort for families struggling with poverty, unemployment, and the devastating effects of climate change, such as the 2022 floods that displaced more than 33 million people. They stressed that mental health services should be available at every stage of the migration process — before departure, during employment, and upon return.
The discussion also addressed the worsening mental health of young people worldwide. Depression, anxiety, and suicide are now among the leading causes of death among youth, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which account for over 84 percent of global deaths among those aged 10 to 29.
Participants emphasized that improving mental health outcomes requires collective responsibility, stronger community systems, protection from gender-based violence, and supportive family environments. They called for policy reforms, stronger bilateral labor agreements, and the use of digital health tools to ensure access to psychological care for migrants and youth alike.
