Article Version of Record

Community mental health services in Pakistan: Review study from Muslim world 2000-2015

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Ali, Tahir Mahmood
Gul, Sana

Abstract / Description

Aim: This study attempted to analyse the potential of two primary sources of mental health service delivery at a grassroots level, religious/faith healers and community/lady health workers, and how they can be effectively used to deliver mental health services in a resource-scarce country like Pakistan. Method: A literature review was carried out for relevant studies conducted in Muslim countries between 2000 to 2015 reporting empirical results. Using the inclusion criteria, thirteen studies were selected for the review. Results: The presented studies suggest that the main proportion of mental health patients in countries with major Muslim population including Pakistan, visit religious/faith healers first for treatment, however all studies are silent about the outcomes through these healers. The only potential visible outcome of contacting religious/faith healers is the identification of mental health cases. However, community/lady health workers with minimal training appeared to be a beneficial source of mental health service delivery in communities. Conclusion: In a resource scarce country like Pakistan, networking with religious/faith healers can be established for effective identification and referral of mental health cases whereas strong and already existing community/lady health workers system can be used as a first level to deliver mental health service at the doorstep.

Keyword(s)

mental health religious/faith healers community/lady health workers low and middle- income countries saúde mental curandeiros religiosos/de fé trabalhadoras de saúde/profissionais de saúde comunitária países de rendimento baixo/médio

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2018-08-03

Journal title

Psychology, Community & Health

Volume

7

Issue

1

Page numbers

57–71

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Ali, T. M., & Gul, S. (2018). Community mental health services in Pakistan: Review study from Muslim world 2000-2015. Psychology, Community & Health, 7(1), 57–71. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v7i1.224
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Ali, Tahir Mahmood
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Gul, Sana
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-12-06T06:49:21Z
  • Made available on
    2018-12-06T06:49:21Z
  • Date of first publication
    2018-08-03
  • Abstract / Description
    Aim: This study attempted to analyse the potential of two primary sources of mental health service delivery at a grassroots level, religious/faith healers and community/lady health workers, and how they can be effectively used to deliver mental health services in a resource-scarce country like Pakistan. Method: A literature review was carried out for relevant studies conducted in Muslim countries between 2000 to 2015 reporting empirical results. Using the inclusion criteria, thirteen studies were selected for the review. Results: The presented studies suggest that the main proportion of mental health patients in countries with major Muslim population including Pakistan, visit religious/faith healers first for treatment, however all studies are silent about the outcomes through these healers. The only potential visible outcome of contacting religious/faith healers is the identification of mental health cases. However, community/lady health workers with minimal training appeared to be a beneficial source of mental health service delivery in communities. Conclusion: In a resource scarce country like Pakistan, networking with religious/faith healers can be established for effective identification and referral of mental health cases whereas strong and already existing community/lady health workers system can be used as a first level to deliver mental health service at the doorstep.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Ali, T. M., & Gul, S. (2018). Community mental health services in Pakistan: Review study from Muslim world 2000-2015. Psychology, Community & Health, 7(1), 57–71. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v7i1.224
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2182-438X
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1958
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2324
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v7i1.224
  • Keyword(s)
    mental health
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    religious/faith healers
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    community/lady health workers
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    low and middle- income countries
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    saúde mental
    pt-PT
  • Keyword(s)
    curandeiros religiosos/de fé
    pt-PT
  • Keyword(s)
    trabalhadoras de saúde/profissionais de saúde comunitária
    pt-PT
  • Keyword(s)
    países de rendimento baixo/médio
    pt-PT
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Community mental health services in Pakistan: Review study from Muslim world 2000-2015
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    1
  • Journal title
    Psychology, Community & Health
  • Page numbers
    57–71
  • Volume
    7
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record