PMDC Orders Mental Health Screening After Student Suicide Concerns

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has directed all medical and dental institutions across the country to introduce structured mental health screening protocols after growing concern over psychological distress and suicide-related incidents among students.

The directive was issued on Wednesday as the regulator called on colleges and universities to treat student and faculty mental wellbeing as an urgent institutional responsibility. The move is aimed at identifying emotional distress early and ensuring that those at risk receive timely professional support.

According to the council’s instructions, screening will be required at two important stages. Students will be assessed at the time of admission to identify pre-existing concerns, while annual mental health reviews will be conducted for undergraduate students, postgraduate trainees and faculty members.

PMDC also asked institutions to use standardised and validated assessment tools rather than informal checks or unstructured interviews. The council said anyone identified as needing further help should be referred to the psychiatry department for detailed evaluation, management and continued follow-up.

The regulator further directed every medical and dental institution to maintain a fully functional psychiatry department along with a dedicated counselling section. These services must be properly staffed, adequately equipped and capable of providing confidential psychological support, professional guidance and timely intervention.

In its statement, PMDC stressed that medical and dental education is demanding by nature and can place heavy academic, emotional and professional pressure on students. It said regular screening and organised counselling services could improve student welfare, support academic performance and help future healthcare professionals develop in a safer environment.

The directive follows a series of distressing incidents involving students at educational institutions in recent months, including cases reported in Lahore, Karachi and Mirpurkhas. These incidents have intensified debate over whether universities and professional colleges are doing enough to detect mental health risks before they become emergencies.

Pakistan’s medical education system has long been associated with intense competition, long study hours, high family expectations and limited access to formal counselling. Experts have often warned that stigma around mental health can prevent students from seeking help, making institutional systems essential for early support.

The decision could have major implications for thousands of students enrolled in public and private medical and dental colleges. If implemented effectively, the new requirements may push institutions to move beyond reactive responses and build permanent mental health support mechanisms inside campuses.

The next challenge will be enforcement. PMDC has asked institutions to ensure strict compliance without delay, but the real test will be whether colleges provide trained professionals, protect confidentiality and create a culture where students and faculty can seek help without fear of judgment or academic consequences.