Patients’ Aid Foundation Caring for Mental Health at JPMC

Mental health is no longer a topic we can afford to brush under the rug. Yet in Pakistan, the silence is deafening. Stigmas, societal pressures, and a lack of resources have made it nearly impossible for millions to get the support they need. 

According to the British Asian Trust, over 50 million people in Pakistan experience mental health issues, but most go untreated due to shame, lack of awareness, or sheer unavailability of affordable care.

However, amid the chaos, Patients’ Aid, an NGO operating within JPMC, is at the frontline and working to change perceptions of healthcare and provide real solutions to people in need.

Patients’ Aid Raising Awareness to Save Lives on this Suicide Prevention Day

Every year, World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on September 10, with the entire month dedicated to suicide awareness. It’s a time to confront hard truths and promote real conversations. According to Dawn, in Pakistan, an estimated rate is 7.5 per 10,000 people. These are not just numbers, they are lost futures, grieving families, and silent cries that went unheard.

Understanding the urgency, Patients’ Aid Foundation has taken a powerful step by establishing the psychiatric landscape at JPMC Karachi, one of the largest and oldest public hospitals in Pakistan.

A Milestone in Mental Health Care The Rashid Soorty Department at JPMC

The newly established Rashid Soorty Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences at JPMC is a groundbreaking initiative providing free mental health services to thousands. Fully funded by Nargis and Shahid Soorty in loving memory of their late father, Rashid Soorty, a well-respected figure in Pakistan, this project was made possible through the support of Patients’ Aid, committed to advancing healthcare at JPMC.

Inaugurated in 2024, the psychiatric ward offers compassionate, free mental health care to those in need. Spanning over 120,000 square feet across four floors, the state-of-the-art facility includes outpatient services, inpatient wards for children, women, and men, a dedicated addiction treatment unit, clinic and consulting rooms, conference and research spaces, and a pharmacy providing free medicines. This makes it one of the most comprehensive psychiatric facilities in the public sector.

The department also provides collaborative care for overlapping psychiatric, neurological, and cognitive conditions, ensuring holistic support beyond isolated symptoms.

In its first six months (January–June 2024), the department treated over 20,695 patients, an average of 115 people daily, offering care, empathy, and a path to recovery. The Soorty family’s generous contribution ensured the facility was built to international standards, preserving dignity for those silently suffering.

Patients’ Aid JPMC uniting donors for Impact

Patients’ Aid is not just an non-profit organisation, it is a humanitarian bridge connecting compassionate donors to critical healthcare needs. Their work at JPMC, one of Pakistan’s largest and oldest public hospitals, has led to the revamp of over 20 departments, including emergency, oncology, psychiatry and more.

While a fully funded psychiatric department, it was through Patients’ Aid’s facilitation that the vision turned into a functioning reality. From architectural planning to execution and operations, Patients’ Aid ensures that every rupee donated is used with accountability and purpose.

Mental Health Doesn’t Discriminate

Mental illness doesn’t show on x-ray, and can affect anyone, young or old, rich or poor. Yet in Pakistan, many still consider it a weakness. This mindset leads people to suffer in silence or seek help from unqualified sources, worsening their condition.

But Patients’ Aid at the Rashid Soorty Psychiatry department at JPMC is here to change that. We actively work to break stereotypes and dispel myths associated with mental illness. From depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder, substance addiction, and suicidal ideation, the psychiatric unit at JPMC is equipped to address a broad spectrum of psychiatric conditions, all free of cost.

Making Mental Health Truly Accessible to All

Patients’ aid at JPMC goes beyond just medical facilitation, it is driven by a larger purpose: to make healthcare accessible to everyone in need across Pakistan. Our mission especially focuses on reaching marginalized and underserved areas such as Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab through targeted awareness campaigns and community outreach.

Patients’ Aid  also actively merge fundraising with community engagement, often using sports events, charity drives, and public gatherings to educate people and gather support for underserved patients.

Click to learn more about Patients’ Aid fundraising events, such as the Golf Tournament in February 2025 to support cancer patients, the Premium Cricket League held in July to fund neurotrauma surgeries, the cycling event ‘Bike a Cause’ in August to support thalassemia patients, and more.

Access to mental healthcare in Pakistan is limited not just by stigma but also by affordability. Private psychiatric services are costly, and public services are often overwhelmed or under-resourced. That’s why the Rashid Soorty Department at JPMC, offering free treatment and free medication, is a landmark in public health.

This psychiatric ward is not just a building. It’s a promise that no one should be left untreated simply because they cannot pay.

Support Patients’ Aid JPMC and Help Save Lives Today

We can no longer turn a blind eye to mental health. It’s high time we stepped forward, not just in awareness, but in action. And that action begins with you.

This Suicide Awareness Month, let your compassion become action. Every day, someone walks into JPMC carrying silent pain, overwhelmed, unheard, and unable to afford help. With your support, Patients’ Aid makes sure they aren’t turned away.

Thanks to generous donors, thousands now receive free, dignified mental health care at the Rashid Soorty Department of Psychiatry. But the need continues to grow, and your help can reach those still waiting in silence. Donate to Patients’ Aid today. Your contribution isn’t just charity, it’s a second chance at life. 

Visit our website for more information or details. If you would like to contribute to this humanitarian cause, please check the donation portal on the website.

Let’s give Sadaqah Jariyah, a lasting charity that benefits people in this world and rewards us in the Hereafter!