THE CONCEPT OF MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND ITS JOURNEY FROM DEVELOPMENT TO IMPLEMENTATION IN PAKISTAN

Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders but it has not been given the same importance as physical health in most parts of the world. Pakistan, a lower middle income country, spending only 0.4% of the total health budget on mental health can be quoted as an example. Still, Pakistan is among those 60% of the countries that have a mental health policy. This article is an attempt to explain the concept and need of mental health policy and the implementation of mental health policy in Pakistan.