President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have urged every Pakistani to play a role in building a society where people can speak openly about mental health without fear, stigma or embarrassment.

In their separate messages on the occasion of World Mental Health Day today, they said the identification and treatment of mental health conditions must receive the same degree of acceptance at the individual, family and societal levels as physical illnesses.

President Asif Ali Zardari called upon all stakeholders to move beyond awareness to meaningful action by listening to people with lived experience.

In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government is working to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare facilities, educational institutions and community-based platforms.