After Terror Attacks in Pakistan’s Tribal Region, Cases of Mental Illness on the Rise

• Dealing with militancy and sectarianism on a continued basis results in unavoidable mental stress
• Inadequate health facilities add to the problems of locals who have to mostly rely on self-medication
• The largest city of Pakistan's semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has seen increasing reports of post traumatic stress disorder

Islamabad, August 11, 2017: Health experts in Pakistan's terror-wrecked Northwestern Tribal region say there has been a rise cases of mental illness like psychological or psychiatric disorders, depression, anxiety and other forms of mental ailments as a result of frequent terror attacks.

"Dealing with militancy and sectarianism on a continued basis results in unavoidable mental stress. Inadequate health facilities add to the problems of locals who have to mostly rely on self-medication," Dr. Talha Rehman, co-trustee of Elaj Trust, a social welfare organization told VOA.

Rehman was part of a team of medical doctors that evaluated the mental health problems of residents of Parachinar. The largest city of Pakistan's semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has seen increasing reports of post traumatic stress disorder (a kind of mental illness) according to health experts in the region.

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"Every other family in Parachinar has lost their son, brother or father to terrorism. Militancy has damaged the very fabric of this society, it has affected their senses and their mental capabilities," said Rehman.

Parachinar, the administrative headquarters of Kurram Agency of FATA shares a strategic and porous border with Afghanistan and has an estimated population of around 250,000 people.

The city has seen a spike both in militancy and sectarian violence in recent years. In June, Parachinar's main market was jolted by two simultaneous bomb blasts that claimed more than 70 lives and left 250 wounded.

"I lost my elder brother in bomb blasts in June and went through severe mental trauma that will last with me for the rest of my life," Humayun Toori, a local resident of Parachinar told VOA. "My brother had four young daughters, who will take care of them? The decades' long militancy and insurgency have made us all pay the price. Our graveyards are full of innocent victims."

Elaj Trust jointly organized a psychological social health assessment workshop in Parachinar recently.

The doctors conducting the study were pleasantly surprised that conversation on mental health is not considered a stigma and "tribesmen of Parachinar were open to discuss their psychiatric issues."

Experts believe certain factors such as lack of basic infrastructure, weak government, ongoing militancy and counter insurgency operations have badly impacted the lives and the mental state of those living in the tribal region.

The continued militancy in Pakistan and the aftershocks of Soviet-Afghan War fought in the 80's also contributed towards the mental ailments. "Three generations in this region have not seen peace. They have lived in a constant state of war and fear since the 80's," Tahira Abdullah, a prominent human rights activist told VOA. "Off course they will develop mental disorders, anyone going through such atrocities will,"

Health experts believe terrorism is not the sole reason contributing to the rise in cases of mental illness among the local population – other factors such as lack of proper health facilities and qualified doctors, poor infrastructure, fewer job opportunities and a disconnect with the rest of the country, are adding to the frustration. (VOA)