Mental health awareness event held in zoo.

KARACHI -- The president of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society on Sunday organised a wellness and promotional camp of mental health at Karachi Zoo.

Former test cricketer Younis Khan was the special guest at the event while the chief guest was Prof Ahmed Ali Khan of Brain Trust United Kingdom, representative of the Imperial College and life member of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Prof Muhammad Iqbal Afridi and guest of honour Senator Karim Khwaja, chairman, Sindh Mental Health AuthoArity, presided over the proceedings.

The organisers said the event was in accordance with President Arif Alvi's mental health initiative for women and young people that also covered their wellness.

The speakers said the nature was a great contributor to good mental health.

Prof Afridi said that taking mental health beyond the hospital premises to the middle of masses would help reduce the alarmingly increasing stigma of mental health.

'Awareness of mental health in public will help prevent people from rampant suicidal tendencies'

'Awareness of mental health in public will benefit and reduce harm to the general behaviour of society and prevent people from rampant suicidal tendencies,' said Dr Afridi.

Younis Khan stressed the need for physical exercise and taking part in sports. He said exercise and sports help improve mental health.

People from different walks of life attended a medical camp at the zoo.

The director of the zoological gardens, Qamar Ayub, appreciated the initiative and agreed with the...