Need Assessment and Availability of Psychiatric Services in Sialkot City: Clients’ Perspectives

Mental health is an integral part of public health, yet psychiatric facilities face inadequate utilization and are often inconvenient. It is very important to understand the perceptions of clients in order to improve mental health care provision and identify deficiency in health care network in Sialkot. This qualitative study was undertaken in order to analyze the recognized need for psychiatric facilities and assess the quality and accessibility of present facilities in Sialkot City from the clients’ insights. The study was carried out in Sialkot City, using qualitative descriptive design. Purposive sampling strategy was employed to choose 20 participants who had exposure of psychiatric Services. Data were collected by means of semi-structured in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used for identifying patterns and themes within the qualitative data. Preliminary research discoveries recommend that culture-based perceptions and social stigma substantially affect the use of psychiatric services. Participants revealed a lack of understanding regarding existing services and showed fear regarding confidentiality. Hurdles to approaching to health care network contained deficiency of competent health care providers, therapeutic expenses, and insufficient transportation facilities are highlighted. Recommendations for bringing improvement comprised of integration of mental health facilities into primary health care network, training programs for mental health professionals, and community-based awareness campaigns.