BasicNeeds Pakistan Profile

BETTER MENTAL HEALTH BETTER LIVES Our Aim

To improve the lives of those living with mental illness and epilepsy by application of community based “Mental Health & Development” model that is effective and transferrable across the country.

CAPACITY BUILDING Equipping people to work on mental health issues

COLLABORATION Forging partnerships to improve mental health provision

COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH Developing accessible services

RESEARCH Generating and applying real-world evidence

BasicNeeds Pakistan Brief Profile

2014-15

Who are We

Our Vision

We BasicNeedsPakistan (BNPAK) is an organization working for the improvement of mental health particularly focusing on underprivileged and deprived Diaspora of society who considers the mental illness a taboo and who don’t seek/get cure of mental illness due to less/non availability of facilities or health care. BNPAK started its operation in 2012 on getting inspiration from Founding President Chris Underhill carrying legacy of international family of BasicNeeds working in 12 countries. BNPAK is now an independent non-profit registered organization working in Pakistan since October 2014 under Companies ordinance of 1984.

To ensure the BasicNeeds of all people with mental illness and epilepsy throughout the world are met and their basic rights are recognized and respected.

Our Mission To enable people with mental illness or epilepsy and their families to live and work successfully in their communities by combining health, socioeconomic and community orientated solutions with changes in policy, practice and resource allocation.

Where We Work Sindh

Balochistan

Punjab

Karachi Matiari Ghotki Jacoaboad Kashmore

Jafarabad Nasirabad

Dera Ghazi Khan Muzafargarh Rajanpur

Mental Health Situation As per WHO, 1 person out of 4 has mental disorder/ illness and the ratio will increase by 2020 with mental illness will become top among diseases. It is not therefore surprising that as per rough estimate 10-16% of the Pakistani population is suffering from Mental illness/disorders while government poor focus is depicted through 1% budgetary allocation. As per WHO there should be a ratio of 1 psychiatrist to 10,000 patient ratio but here in Pakistan there is an alarming ratio of 1/500,000. Mental health care is usually attached with secondary or tertiary care centers with only 5 specialized mental care facilities as per UN 2008 report with 1 bed/100,000 patient, while dominant patients are female (69%). So this is a statistic of around 2008 as no authentic latest statistics at local or international level is available but these figures and data are still valid as situation is more or less same or let’s roughly say more overwhelming as said in above lines this is not a government or health sector manager’s top resource focus.

Our History Such was the bleak scenario of mental health in Pakistan even in recent time when during a visit of BasicNeeds International founder president Chris Underhill, feeling the need of the hour a partnership agreement was signed between BasicNeeds, Aman Foundation and British Asian Trust to work for mental health improvement in Pakistan. Based on this agenda BasicNeedsPakistan(BNPAK) was formally launched in January 2012 with a 5 year project for mental health improvement and initially the project was provided incubation by Aman Foundation. In June 2013, a landmark was achieved when project started its implementation at two districts Malir and Korangi with help of implementation partners. This geographical horizon was expanded in July 2014 when project moved to interior Sindh province by selecting another region Matiari. In September 2014, BNPAK achieved an important landmark by registering under companies’ ordinance 1984 as an independent legal entity. BasicNeeds Pakistan proposed the idea for the creation of a forum on mental health called Mental Health Forum (MHF) along with MASHAL- Aman Health Care, through which the organisation was able to urge a number of national civil society organizations including Pakistan Association for Mental Health to highlight mental health issues and promote better mental health for all.

Our Approcah CONTRIBUTION TO FAMILY

CONSULTATION WITH - People with mental illness - Their families - Communities

Educate about Mental Illness.

Breaking the Silence

Sustainable Livelihood

- Employment - Micro credit - Educate their previous / new employers

TREATMENT

PRODUCTIVE WORK

- Community accesses treatment.

- Symptoms reduce

Community Mental Health

- Reduce Stigma - Acceptance in the community

Social Integration

MAINSTREAMING

ENABLE

Capacity Building

- Skills training - Therapeutic interventions

- Selp-Help Groups - Access to various poverty alleviation schemes

Advocacy for Basic Rights

Program Impact on Community 1974

1645 3619

Diagnose under Treatment Carers 25369

Total Beneficiaries 28988

Program Activities Awareness Stalls Awareness Walks

221 500 1443

322

Program Impact on Fields

Theater Performance

890 1494

2735

4079

1974

569 158 Accessing MHS

PWMIE’s Treatment

Livelihood

Volunteers

Staff/Community Trained

397

12

Community

56 41

569

CHW/LHW NGO Workers Volunteer Training

Our Collaborations BNPAK is member of prestigious organizations like World Federation of Mental Health, Global Movement of Mental Health, Mental Health Forum Pakistan, BasicNeeds International, Civicus, National Humanitarian Network (NHN) and HRDN. BNPAK has funding partnership with Aman Foundation and British Asian Trust, while HANDS, Karwan e Hayat (KeH), Sindh Graduates Association (SGA) are its implementation partners

Our Success Stories Maqsooda 42 (Schizophrenic, Distt., Malir) BNPAK discovered her through community members. After going through mental health improvement program, she started free living without chains and making good progress in recovery phase.

Shafi 48 (Chronic Schizophrenic, Distt., Malir) Suffered over a 20 years of illness started due to personal grief.

BNPAK found Shafi chained with incapability to communicate. But by undergoing program for mental health improvement, he is now recovering.

Nazia 26 (Epileptic, Distt., Malir) Nazia was 14 when she was suffered with epileptic stroke but due to poor resources and improper diagnostic facilities and PIR FAQIR process she suffered over 11 years. BNPAK discovered her through community member and now undergoing program she is recovering fast so much that she do all house chores including cooking and also learning stitching.

Our Way Forward • Expand Geographical Horizon • Emphasis on further development of livelihood module • Work on advocacy & policy reforms and legislative reforms for mental health • Strengthening of mental health forum

Important Messages Chris Underhill (Founder President BasicNeeds, MBE (UK), Awards for Social Achievement in 2012 & 2014) “I am delighted to see BasicNeedsPakistan (BNPAK) emerging as good contributor to mental health in Pakistan as independent member of International family of BasicNeeds and a strong advocate of cause of good mental health.”

Dr. Saadia Quraishy (Chairperson BasicNeeds Pakistan, MBBS (DOW), CPSP (PAK), MRCP (UK)) “Mental health is a major concern as those with mental disorders often don’t seek/get help due to cultural obstacles, inequitable distribution and limited/no access. BNPAK working on this issue with a holistic and recovery oriented approach in collaboration with stakeholders.”

Zafar Ali Dheraj (CEO BasicNeeds Pakistan) “Mental health is the lowest priority of Government of Pakistan despite a ratio of 10-16% of population is affected with mental illness. BNPAK started its operation in Malir, Karachi East and Matiari in collaboration with partners focusing on under-privileged/deprived Diaspora. We are working on it but yet we need hard work and more collaboration as this is a long journey.”

Our Contact Office: BasicNeeds Pakistan

Plot #333, Korangi Township,

Near Pakistan Refinery Ltd.

Karachi, Sindh - Pakistan Tel : +92 - 21 - 35069996 Ext: 2105- 2106 Fax : +92 - 21 - 35823698 Email: info.pakistan@basicneeds.org Web: www.basicneeds.org.pk

@BasicNeedsPak facebook.com/BasicNeedsPakistan

Registered Under Companies Ordinance 1984 of Pakistan under Registration no: 0090056