KU inks MoU with Sindh Mental Health Authority, Dow University of Health Sciences to conduct in-depth research of suicidal cases in rural Sindh

The Department of Genetics of the University of Karachi signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sindh Mental Health Authority and the Department of Psychiatry of the Dow University of Health Sciences at the KU Vice Chancellor Secretariat on Thursday.

The main objective of the tripartite-inked MoU is to conduct in-depth research on suicidal cases in rural Sindh, particularly in Tharparkar, Jamshoro, Dadu, and other districts. All genetic research will be conducted at KU’s genetic department.

As per the MoU, the KU’s genetics department along with the SMHA and psychiatry department of the DUHS will conduct DNA analysis, and genetic study of the whole family of the person who had committed or attempted suicide to identify if there is any genetic association with the mental health issues like depression, use of substance, and others with the specific family members or persons.

The SMHA would identify the mental health issues in families and the KU’s genetic department would conduct the genetic studies of the collected biological samples. Meanwhile, the DUHS’s psychiatry department will help in identifying the cases and also facilitate collecting and identifying data.

The KU’s genetic department, SMHA, and DUHS’s psychiatry department would prepare a detailed survey questionnaire before reaching affected families and persons, and later biological samples and data would be collected for genetic study, analysis, and examination.

On this occasion, the President of the SMHA Senator Dr Karim Khawaja briefed the audience that the SMHA has been working on mental health issues for the last seven years and they know that the suicide cases are increasing in Tharparkar and other districts of the province with the alarming rate and that’s why they want to work on this serious issues with the relevant departments and institutions of Sindh to find out the causes and factors involved in the suicidal cases.

The project’s coordinator and KU’s psychology department faculty member Professor Dr Farah Iqbal informed the audience about the importance of the mental well-being of a person and shed light on how family suffered when their loved ones committed suicide.

The KU Chairperson of the Department of Genetics Professor Dr Maqsood Ali Ansari mentioned that he is hopeful that research would help in determining the root causes of the high suicidal ratio in Tharparkar districts and nearby areas.

The DUHS Registrar Dr Ashar Afaq said that the DUHS VC Professor Mohammed Saeed Quraishy is personally interested in this project. He mentioned that Dr Quraishy couldn’t attend today’s MoU signing ceremony as he was busy in the Selection Board process.

The DUHS’s psychiatry department head Dr Washdev shared that after the Covid-19 pandemic, the rate of suicides has increased extensively across the world including several districts of Sindh.

The KU Chairperson of the Department of Psychology Professor Dr Anila Amber Malik observed that with the involvement of three applicable departments, the research would be able to identify most of the reasons for the high suicidal rate.

Professor Saima Saleem from KU’s Dr. A. Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering said that studying genes might help highlight some major reasons behind suicides in society.

The KU Dean of the Faculty of Science Professor Dr Musarrat Jahan Yousuf observed that detailed research may also indicate more factors and reasons for suicidal cases. The KU Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science Professor Dr Shaista Tabassum said that this study will also help in realizing the impact on the family members who have lost their loved ones due to committing suicide.

The KU Registrar Professor Dr Abdul Waheed said that during his two-year-long research in 22 districts of Sindh, he had observed cases of suicide in several districts.

The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that unfortunately, the governments and even the masses did not take the matters of health especially mental health seriously and very little effort is being made to improve the healthcare facilities in the country.

He observed that like physical health mental health is also very important for the well-being of a person and hoped that this research would surely help society as it would help in learning genetic and other factors behind the suicidal cases.

He mentioned that collaboration and sharing of ideas, resources, and expertise always bring fruitful results.

The KU acting Dean of the Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences Professor Dr Zaeema Asrar Mohiuddin, faculty members of KU’s genetics department, former provincial health secretary Suresh Kumar, Secretary SMHA Dr Syed Zafar Mehdi, KU’s Director Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization Dr Syeda Hoor-Ul-Ain and team, and others were also present during the MoU signing ceremony.

Later, the President SMHA Senator Dr Karim Khawaja, the DUHS Registrar Dr Ashar Afaq, and the KU Chairperson of the Department of Genetics Professor Dr Maqsood Ali Ansari inked the MoU document.