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This Report is made to share the proceedings of the program organized by Sindh Graduate Association to observe the International Youth Day on 12th of August 2014 at Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

Every year, on 12th of August International Youth Day is being observed since 2000. This day was designated as International Youth Day by the UN General Assembly in 1999. It is an annual celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change, as well as an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges and hardships facing the world’s youth. Thematic discussions and information campaigns are placed on 12 August across the world, to encourage both Member States and the general public to understand the needs of young people, to implement policies to help them overcome the challenges they face, and to help young people into the decision-making process1

In this program about 250 participants participated, mainly youth. CEOs, EDs and representatives of more than 41 organizations took part in this important event. The program was designed to focus on the importance of youth, their importance in social, economic, cultural activities of the society.

The program was divided in three sessions (Annexure-I):

1. Inaugural session – International Youth Day2. Panel discussion and 3. Global Selfie Campaign Launch There were two panellist sessions in the program emphasizing on mental health of youth. In first panel Dr. Shahnawaz Dall, Neuropsychiatric Surgeon- Chairman of MK hospital Hyderabad, Dr. Saadia Quraishy, Psychiatrist – MRCP in Psychiatry, CEO of MASHAL (Mental Health Project of Aman Foundation) Chairperson of BasicNeeds Pakistan and Dr. Sulaiman Shaikh Secretary Board of Trustees SZABIST were invited. They shared the importance of mental health and its effects on welfare of the society.

Second panel consisted of Bashir Ahmed Mangi, DG Population Sindh, Aslam Pechohoo, Additional Secretary Health and Mr Shrutidhar Trypathi, UNFPA – Pakistan. All panellist focused on the importance of mental health and its ultimate impact on the society and

as whole. They also shared that we all need to know the factors responsible creating mental disorders as population, lack of resources, illiteracy, unemployment, and law and order situation are few of the reason, certainly there are other factors as well which need to be identified and addressed accordingly. We should not blame Government only for not doing enough but we also need to understand that we all have individual responsibilities for sustainable and harmonious society, we all need to realize and work for the prosperity of the country as whole. Youth, being the most important part of the country need to come forward and support the society and strengthen the nation, ultimately the World.

Shrutidhar Trypathi, UNFPA read the message of Executive Director UNFPA “a safe and healthy passes to adulthood is the right of every child being healthy means not absence of illness but complete physical, mental and social wellbeing…”

Before conducting this program a 10 day campaign was ran by Sindh Graduate Association in recognition of the theme of the International youth Day 2014 “ Mental Health Matters”. Overall 902 activities including -awareness walks, stalls, consultative meetings, social media campaign (Facebook and twitter) lectures by the psychiatrists at schools-colleges, day celebration at sir CJ hospital Hyderabad (only psychiatric hospital in Sindh), mental health messages through FM radio, dissemination of messages through pamphlets, village based volunteers activities, drawing competitions, letters to the district to create mental health awareness, flotilla campaign, interactive theatres and meetings with notable figures were conducted in which 52835 people (mostly youth) were approached. The determined and concerted efforts of Sindh Graduate Association to create the awareness about the importance of “Mental Health Matters” was successful achievement as almost all stakeholders including government, civil society and other NGOs realised the importance of mental health for children and youth. Everyone was of the same opinion that through collective efforts we can create a healthy society for our youth. But more needs to be done to create awareness to end the stigma for everyone besides the provision of mental health services.

Executive Summary

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International youth day was observed on 12th of August 2014 in Karachi by the Sindh Graduate Association, where a large number of young participant participated in the event. As the theme of the program was “Mental Health Matters” number of psychiatrist and psychologist also attended the program from different organizations working on mental health.

To emphasise the importance of mental health and raising the awareness, a 10 day campaign was scheduled from 2nd-11th August 2014 which include walks, theatre, lecture/interactive sessions with youth, pledging to support mental health, day celebration with people with mental disorders in Sri C.J Institute of Psychiatry.

This program was organized in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund – Pakistan. The objective of the observing International Youth Day was to raise awareness on mental health related issues besides to promote young individuals to speak about these issues with the objective of overcoming stigma and discrimination to ensure that young people with mental health conditions can lead full and healthy lives free from isolation and unnecessary shame, and openly seek the services and support they need. [2]

The first youth day was observed on 12th of August 2000. Since 2000 this day is observed annually on 12th of August every year. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.

The theme of International Youth Day 2014 was “Youth and Mental Health” under the slogan ‘Mental Health Matters’. Youth with mental health conditions can often experience stigma and discrimination, which in turn can lead to exclusion and/or discourage people from seeking help for fear of being negatively ‘labelled’. Efforts are needed to overcome this stigma to ensure that young people with mental health conditions can lead full and healthy lives free of isolation and unnecessary shame, and that they openly seek the services and support they need. [2]

Following are few facts related to the day:

- More than 100,000 young people die from self-harm every year in the Asia-Pacific region. Over half of them are young women. - In Asia and the Pacific, self-harm is the leading cause of death for young women and the second-highest cause of death for young men. - As many as half of all mental health disorders start by age 14. However, most go unrecognized and untreated which has serious consequences for mental health throughout life. - The exercise of sexual and reproductive health and rights is essential to the health and well-being of young people.

Sindh Graduate Association (SGA) has been working in Sindh since 1972, currently it has 114 branches in Pakistan working on education, advocacy, health and other social issues. Strong volunteerism, advocacy and vast network are the strong mainstays of Sindh Graduate Association.

Introduction

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First Session: Inauguration of International Youth Day Event

Rafique Jaferi was invited to welcome the respected guest. Jaferi gave a brief introduction of the Sindh Graduate Association. He shared that SGA has number of branches overall Sindh and its thematic areas are education and health. He affirmed that these struggles will continue to strengthen our youth and the country as whole.

Later Usman Mujtaba came on stage and shared about BasicNeeds which is working on mental health globally and one of the stakeholder in mental health in Pakistan. In his presentation he shared the Model of BasicNeeds and its implantation in Pakistan. He also focused the importance of youth in the social and economic wellbeing of the society.

After him Saifullah Bhutto, General Manager SGA, gave a small presentation on campaign ran by SGA Sindh to increase awareness and importance of mental health in youth and general.

He shared that number of activities were conducted to raise the importance of mental health where 902 activities had been organized throughout Sindh in which 52835 people were reached.

After his presentation token of appreciation was presented to all respected guests. Token of love (drawings) were made by children of 13-15 years of age on importance of mental health and its effects on families and society.

Mr. Nisar Khoro Minister for Education Province of Sindh was requested to share his views about the day. In his speech he thanked SGA for inviting him to share his views on the importance of mental health. He said that SGA is one of the oldest non-government organization in development sector working for Education and health since very long. He praised the initiative taken by SGA for creating awareness about mental health and commemorating the International Youth Day 2014.

Program Details

From RtL Mr. Rafique Jafri SGA, Nisar Khoro Minister for Education Sindh & Usman Mujtaba BasicNeeds Pakistan Saifullah Bhutto - General Manager SGA

Nisar Khoro, Minister for Education Sindh

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He further said that youth are the one who are the future of today and tomorrow and we all have gathered here to observe this day whereas number of other nations throughout the world would have also been observing this day. The importance of today’s the day is that it is International youth day celebrated/observed by United Nations themed on “Mental Health Matters”. Continuing his speech he said that families mostly do not consider mental illnesses as illness which make people suffer long, we need to aware families that these are the diseases which need to be addressed as other diseases. Psychiatrist can share such information and let families know how to make such people and children active individuals of the society, which can be done with awareness raising campaigns and other activities. NGOs are working in almost all area of work so let us work together to create a prosperous community and country.

Mental health is a very sensitive subject and need to be addressed sensitively. Here we face problems of vaccination, we know what happens with polio vaccination –due to unawareness and other reasons- same happens with this matter. You and other number of organization working on social wellbeing of the society so we all need to consolidate and work together. He said that majority of the province lives in village and due to lack of resources and population, large number of the people are uneducated. To address such issues youth should come forward to change the negative attitude, criticism and pessimism for people with mental disorders. Let’s change the attitude and lets work together to change the environment and society.

In last that he said that he is thankful of SGA and UNFPA for honouring him to be part of International Youth Day, congratulated for their wonderful achievement of reaching such a large number of people, further adding he said that Sindh Government will support all organizations working for the betterment of the society.

Nisar Khoro, Minister for Education Sindh

Audience at International Youth Day Karachi Sindh on 12th August 2014

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Second Session: Panel Discussion- Youth and Mental Health

Next session of discussion was started after the speech of Mr. Khoro. The panellist were Dr. Shahnawaz Dall, Neuropsychiatric Surgeon- Chairman of MK hospital Hyderabad, Dr. Saadia Quraishy, Psychiatrist – MRCP in Psychiatry, CEO of MASHAL (Mental Health Project of Aman Foundation) Chairperson of BasicNeeds Pakistan and Dr. Sulaiman Shaikh from SZABIST.

Topic of the panel Mental Health situation in Pakistan Youth and Mental Health

Dr. Saadia started the discussion and said that awareness regarding mental disorder is the need of the day as understanding of mental disorders and literacy is very much needed in the countries like ours where there is very low literacy rate and poor health infrastructure.

She said that we not only need to raise the awareness but we also have to focus on the facilities available as the services in this area of health are very low, for which government’s involvement is compulsory. Being a chairperson of the BasicNeeds Pakistan she also shared the all-inclusive approach of the program of its being covering awareness raising activities, medication (medical camps in communities), developing linkages for livelihood etc.

Adding further she said that as per an estimation there is 42 Million youth in Pakistan which is somewhat 27 % of the population. They are the dividend of the country in both social and economic terms. Our youth is full of passion. They are the power of the country being strong and vulnerable at the same time. In KPK we have come up to know that people seeking treatment for mental illnesses which is a proof that people are taking this as illness. We all need to work together where mental health be a focused matter.

Later Dr. Dal talked about Youth and Mental Health- In his speech he said that being psychiatrist we face many problems of impulsive attitude sometimes we also get stressed but think of the people who suffer such attitudes in their daily lives. The institute I work –Sir C.J Institute of Psychiatry- was established in 1865 where we have capacity of more than 400 in house patient and on daily bases we treat about 250-300 patients including young

girls and boys. Young people are more susceptible we all have to think about and work together to change the attitude of peoples and individuals towards people with mental disorders.

He further said that mental health has become science of attitudes, if we change our attitudes we will sort out many issues. He further said that people like us need to come forward and to break the stigma and discrimination done with people with mental disorders.

Social, psychological and biological factors affect young people, being more sensitive compared to people of other ages. Another factor he focused was drug abuse which has created economic burden on not only the families but on the society as well. Youth are the future makers so they need to be sound and health by all means. Let’s have sense of responsibility and work together.

He further added that we only have 400 psychiatrists in Pakistan over the population of 180 million and the worst part is that most of these psychiatrist are residing in urban areas whereas our most of the population lives in rural areas where they already have limited resources and lack of general health practitioners.

Adding to his speech he said that young people must come and join this field to reduce the burden, he added. He also emphasized on the importance of awareness and acceptance of the disease and youth being the energetic, encouraging and enthusiastic need to help the society to come out of the dogma of unawareness and unacceptance.

Dr. Saadia Quraishy CEO MASHAL and Dr. Shahnawaz Dal -CJ Hospital Hyderabad

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Dr. Sulaiman Shaikh 3rd panellist succeeded Dr. Dal who joined the panel little late, Dr. Sulaiman also shared the importance of the day and mental health in respect of youth. He said that parents play very important role in development of young people they are the one their children follow and obey so they need to be careful while dealing with their children. He also shared an example of a doctor who had committed suicide in a very young age mentioning that due to family’s unsupportive attitude he committed suicide. So families and society need to be polite towards the people with mental disorders and treat them with due respect.

Then a question answer session was started in which different questions were asked as: • What are affects of Media and politics on mental ealth of youth? • What is the link between mental illness and religion?• How to get information about mental illnesses?• Youth which is not associated with any NGO how s/he can help and promote mental health?

In answer to these questions panellist said that families being primary source of emotional, intellectual, cultural, social and psychological development of children they need to be fair, just, sincere and fulfilling their children’s due needs. Bio-Psycho-social approaches are needed to be understood as they are the factors responsible for creating mental illnesses.

Dr. Saadia said that time tested truth is that people seek religious support when they are afraid but we need to separate diseases and religion as spiritual relief is different than medical treatment. We need to make them realise that these are also illnesses same as other physical illnesses and can be treated as other physical illness are treated. For resilience we can contact religion healers but treatment is very much important, which should not be compromised.

At the end of the panel discussion a token of appreciation was presented to the respected panellists.

Dr. Sulaiman Shaikh while sharing his ideas

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Third Session: Global Selfie Campaign

Before the start of third session an announcement was made that United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) a global camping, which will be started/launched soon in coming days. On International Youth Day, UNFPA launches global #showyourselfie campaign to put youth in the picture.

Third and the last panel was called for UNFPA where Bashir Ahmed Mangi, DG Population Sindh, Aslam Pechohoo, Additional Secretary Health and Mr Shrutidhar Trypathi, UNFPA were invited.

Shrutidhar Trypathi, UNFPA read the message of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director UNFPA “a safe and healthy passes to adulthood is the right of every child being healthy means not absence of illness but complete physical, mental and social wellbeing…Young people were not in focus in the Millennium Development Goals, the last global development plan that was adopted in 2000. They cannot be forgotten again.”

Today’s youth are growing up fast in a world that is changing with unprecedented speed. Because of their dynamism and imagination, young people can respond to these challenges in innovative ways. With the right investments, today’s young people can reach their full potential as individuals, leaders and agents of progress. And the world clearly needs their energy, their participation and their skills. Young people can transform the social and economic fortunes of the

developed and developing countries alike—but that will take action on health, education, employment, sexual and reproductive health and a commitment to real civic engagement. Yet progress on youth issues lags in every part of the world. [3]

On International Youth Day, UNFPA and Global Citizen also officially launched #showyourselfie, a global campaign to urge world leaders to prioritize the needs and rights of young people in the post-2015 development agenda – the roadmap for the world’s development over the next 15 years.

Aslam Pechohoo, Additional Secretary Health said that we have only 29% of children vaccination record which is even lower then Nigeria. “We are fighting to eradicate polio from our country, there are lots of problems our nation is facing, I believe it is us who need to come forward specially you the youth who is energetic and enthusiastic”, he added. He further said that basic health issues also lead to mental disorders so we need to work not only to mitigate stigma but also the factors those are responsible for mental disorders.Aslam Pechohoo, Additional Secretary Health said that we have only 29% of children vaccination record which is even lower then Nigeria. Basic health issues also lead to mental disorders so we need to work not only to mitigate stigma but also the factors those are responsible for such disorders.

Bashir Ahmed Mangi, DG Population Sindh said that young population is increasing and we are hopeful of their due contribution in the social, economic and cultural development. He also shared

Shrutidhar Trypathi– UNFPA Pakistan

Shautidahr - UNFPA Pakistan and Bashir Ahmed Mangi- DG Population Sindh

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that population in Pakistan is increasing day by day, this also creating mental stress in families who cannot support their children comprising on their children’s basic rights of education and health leading to end up with mental problems. These mental health related issues not only affect children but the parents at the time for not being able to fulfil the due needs of their children. Every year 11th of July 2014 world population day is observed throughout the world to raise awareness and promote family planning, youth should take the responsibility of being ambassadors for promoting health.

He said that at government level we all need to work hard as to handle these interrelated and interdependent matters of health. We all know that Pakistan is developing country having very limited resources with rising population so mental stress is sort of a bi product of these issues. In this case Government should not be blamed only it’s ours responsibility too to understand these facts and response accordingly.

At the end of the session token of participation was distributed in respected panellists.

Program was concluded on thank you note by Murtaza Noonari, hi tea was served.

- Selfies at IYD 2014 #showyourselfie

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Inaugural Session Resource Persons Time

Welcome note Introduction of Sindh Graduates Association -SGA

Mr. Rafique Ahmed Jaffri , Chairman Sindh Graduates Association 14:00- 14:15

Introduction of BasicNeeds Pakistan Mr. Zafar Ali Dehraj, Country Program Manager, BasicNeeds Pakistan 14:15-14:30

Share Brief Campaign on Mental Health Matters in Sindh

Mr. Saifullag Bhutto , General Manager SGA 14:30-14:40

Opening Remarks and Symbolic Launch of Mental Health And Development Project

Mr. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Senior Minister for Education GoS 14:40-15:00

Panel Discussion Resource Persons Time

• Mental Health Situation in Pakistan; • Youth and Mental Health; • Role of civil society in youth development to address mental health

Dr. Saadia Qurraishy, CEO MASHAL Dr. Shahnawaz Dal, Senior Psychiatrist CJ Hospital Hyderabad Dr. Suleman Sheikh, Founder, SGA

15:00-15:45

Q & A Moderator 15:45-16:00

International Youth Day Resource Persons Time

Executive Director UNFPA Message on International Youth Day 2014

Mr. Shrutidhar Trypathi, International Program Coordinator-UNFPA Sindh

16:00-16:10

UNFPA Global Selfie Campaign on Post Development 2015

Mr. Shrutidhar Trypathi, International Program Coordinator-UNFPA Sindh

16:10-16:20

Speech by Special Guests

Mr. Laeeq Ahmed, Secretary Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs GoS Dr. Muhammad Aslam Pechoho, Additional Secretary Ministry of Health GoS Mr. Basheer Ahmed Mangi, Director General, Population Welfare Department GoS

16:20-17:00

Hi Tea 17:00

Annexure IINTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2014

“Mental Health Matters“

PROGRAMMEAugust 12th, 2014

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Referenceshttp://en.unesco.org/events/international-youth-day-2014#sthash.lExyV8Gf.dpuf [1]http://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/http://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/ [2]http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/18203http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/11858#sthash.rABPCo3t.dpuf [3]

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