It was a regular afternoon at the office. Everything seemed fine—until out of nowhere came chest tightness, a racing heartbeat, and a wave of dizziness. Breathing got harder with each passing minute. It felt serious—maybe even like a heart attack. But what followed was not a heart diagnosis—it was a reminder of how lacking mental health support in Pakistan can be, especially when emotional distress turns into a physical emergency.
Within the hour, the person rushed to the emergency room. Doctors ran tests, checked the heart, and monitored oxygen levels. After reviewing the reports, they gave a short and simple diagnosis:“You’re fine. Just stress.”
But it didn’t feel fine. No one offered treatment, explanations, or guidance. Just confusion, worry, and a quiet walk back into the same daily routine that triggered the collapse.
In Pakistan, this story happens more often than people realize. Every day, people show up in emergency rooms with panic attacks, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion—simply because they don’t know where else to go.
Emergency rooms treat physical emergencies: heart attacks, accidents, and injuries. They operate quickly, focus on saving lives, and deal with what shows up on medical tests. Mental health issues—like panic, depression, or emotional overload—don’t appear in scans or lab results. So when people feel terrible, the system often responds with: “You’re fine.”
The problem isn’t a lack of compassion from doctors. The real issue is that the system lacks the tools to handle emotional pain.
So why do people keep going to the ER during a mental health crisis?
Therapy is expensive. Appointments take time. Many still feel ashamed to talk about mental health. And when things spiral, the ER feels like the only place open and ready to help.
But using the ER to treat emotional breakdowns is like asking a plumber to fix a short circuit. The tools don’t match the issue.
What people truly need is a support system that steps in before they fall apart.
Luckily, one such step already exists.
By calling 1123, anyone in Pakistan can connect with a mental health expert—confidentially, from home, and for free. Services like Tele Tabeeb allow people to talk to trained professionals who listen, guide, and support without judgment.
This simple option can prevent bigger emergencies. It offers relief and shows that help isn’t only for physical illness—but for mental health too.
You don’t need to wait for a full-blown crisis before you take mental health seriously. The warning signs are often there: sleepless nights, constant anxiety, unexplained anger, or emotional numbness. These are real issues, and they deserve attention.
Let’s stop ignoring mental health until it becomes a physical emergency. Getting support early can change everything.
Because not every emergency needs an ambulance.Sometimes, it just needs someone who listens.
📞 Dial 1123 — Because your mental health matters before it becomes an emergency.
