What is the thing you fear most that could happen to you? Would it be to lose the eyesight, have a car accident and be left to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of your life, unable to perform breadwinning or matrimonial duties? Or, perhaps, it would be acquiring an incurable disease, such as cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, or another long-lasting or mystical medical condition?
Yes, we fear all the above and we thank God, as we get older for having reached this far in fairly good physical and mental health. To lose our faculties, go crazy, to put it bluntly, is probably what we fear most, especially if we are not completely “gone” all the time, but have a consciousness of self, knowing that we are mentally ill, unable to control or cure it, only suffering from it.
When I think about war victims, soldiers on both sides and civilians, it is such things I think about and worry about, not for myself but for those on the frontline, or people affected by landmines, cluster bombs, drone attacks, and other destructive instruments that we cruel human beings have invented - and use - in Afghanistan and the border areas in Pakistan. I have dealt with Afghan refugees for many years, and I have seen what can happen and I think about the sad fate of so many people to no fault of their own. Most of them carry it gracefully. Yet, you know when you meet them, and you can fully understand if they chew some drugs or smoke “something” to get through the day, old women and old men, young people, too. Wouldn’t we all have done it?
Did you know that all drugs were legal until the First World War? And after that, due to the terrible injuries and pains war victims had, drugs were commonly used. Then a wave followed against the strong narcotic drugs. Some religious groups and others asked for legal regulations.
When I first met Gulzar Wazir, who runs “Friends of the Mind”, an NGO in Peshawar, I was impressed by the way he always started his public speeches, explaining that “I am a Schizophrenic.” I told him that he didn’t need to say it so directly, and perhaps he could talk about it in past tense.
“Well,” he said, “I am supposed to talk about these issues. That is why, I run an NGO focusing on awareness creation and advocacy. It is “normal” for so many people to have some kind of mental illness in their lives, perhaps not permanently, but for periods. We should talk about it and not feel shy. We should also seek treatment and medication, if we can afford it. We should seek assistance from family and community.” And he often added: “My wife has always been my best doctor and counsellor, and I am terribly grateful to her. I am impressed by her patience. She is a strong believer. Otherwise, I cannot see how she could have been able to put up with me.”
Gulzar was an army officer about 25 years ago when he fell mentally ill. He had also become addicted to alcohol and other substances. “I was hospitalised for six months,” he explains, “and it was hell.” “Without my family’s support, and the medical treatment I received as an army man, I would not have lived long, or I would have lived a very miserable life,” he says.
About 10 years ago, Gulzar established “Friends of the Mind”, for several years supported by his sister, Dr Maryam Bibi, who runs a particularly successful NGO named “Khwendo Kor” (Sisters House), providing education for girls and boys, and support for needy women. “We were given free office space in Khwendo Kor, and other help to make ends meet,” Gulzar explains.
But from 2006, a sister organisation in Oslo, Norway has provided financial support, and also some professional help. The leader of “Friends of the Mind - Norway”, Terje Lillehaug, visited Peshawar last week. We met him and he explained how satisfied he was with the work carried out by Gulzar and his team. “Our concept is quite unique,” said Terje. He added: “And we are, indeed, glad that the mentally ill and people suffering from substance abuse can be given some help though counselling and other assistance.”
Terje, too, underlines the importance of beginning to talk more openly about mental illnesses and substance abuse. He finds Pakistan lagging far behind Norway in this field and is saddened to see how meagre resources the Pakistani government spends on mental illness.
“Friends of the Mind - Pakistan is a small project. But we have worked steadily since we started; we are beginning to see the results, and also increased interest from donors and well wishers. We have had some funding from the Norwegian government, through the development aid agency Norad. We will submit our application next month for a new three-year phase,” Terje explains. He adds that they have a few other, private donors, and some good income from the “Solidarity Calendar”, which is sold in Norway at a relatively high price. “Those who buy the calendar know that the profit goes directly to important work for people with mental illness in Pakistan,” Terje says.
Before returning to Norway last Saturday, Terje made a video film about the project and broader mental issues. He says that there is interest for this work at home in Norway, although Pakistan is quite far away from it. “But there is a large Pakistani community in Norway. They and other Norwegians feel solidarity with people who suffer in the poor countries, and maybe some of those who give us some money have had mental illnesses or been alcoholics themselves. They know how difficult life can be, even in a country like Norway with free medical treatment and good counselling and social support. Stigma is almost entirely gone by now,” he says.
As the two very different countries keep working together, and Gulzar runs out of words when praising his friend Terje and the Norwegian assistance, we are reminded that we should begin speaking up for mental illnesses, creating better understanding and sympathy and establish treatment. The fact also remains that many who today live far from decent lives could actually have been relatively ok, if treatment had existed and affordable medicines and support systems had been there. Much help can be obtained for relatively small amounts of money. But the first step is to create an understanding for the needs.
The slogan of “Friends of the Mind – Pakistan” is: “Speak up for the mentally ill. They cannot speak for themselves.” And Gulzar adds: “We must never judge patients. We must only try to help and treat. That can be “tough love”, too. And we must especially be both understanding and firm with family members. We must admit that to treat persons with mental illnesses and certainly abusers of alcohol and drugs, requires professional competence. Understanding and inclusiveness from family and the society at large is essential as a first step. But medical treatment is also required.”
“In Pakistan, we need a deliberate policy for mental health, much better than what we have today,” Gulzar underlines. We applaud his work in doing a great job, but many more “Friends of the Mind” are needed - because the thing most of us fear in life is that we lose our mind and become mentally ill. And if it happens, we would need help and someone who would speak for us!
The writer is a senior Norwegian social scientist based in Islamabad. He has worked with research, diplomacy, development and humanitarian aid. He is the author of The Know Norway Book, just published in December 2011.
Email: atlehetland@yahoo.com