Disability and its Impacts on Mental Health in Pakistan: A Review

Abstract

Disability puts negative impacts on mental health leading to tension, depression, anxiety and other behavioral problems for the persons with disabilities and the caregivers in Pakistan. The study is qualitative in nature and is based on the analysis of available literature regarding disability and its psychological impacts on mental health of family members. The study concludes that in Pakistan persons with disabilities are totally dependent on their family members because the government as well as private sector seldom provides services for their care at home. In the absence of such services, the family has to shoulder all the responsibilities of this vulnerable segment of society. The study recommends that in order to deal with problems faced by family members and caregivers of the persons with special disabilities, the government, private sector and philanthropists should join hands and resolve their issues. Moreover the people should also change their attitude towards them of society and should not make them stigmatized.. Mental health services should be provided to the family members of persons with disability so that they can better serve them. Furthermore, economic assistance, insurance and social security programs should be introduced for children with disabilities as well as their family members.