The burden of depression in individuals living with diabetes is a growing health concern both in Pakistan and globally. In Pakistan, approximately 33 million individuals are affected by diabetes, with a staggering 30 to 40 percent of them experiencing mental stress and depression.
On Wednesday, 9 July 2025, a pivotal expert consensus meeting titled ‘Tackling Depression in Diabetes’ was successfully convened in Islamabad, Pakistan to focus on the results of the DiaDeM project, and further plans for the integration of depression care into non-mental healthcare settings across Pakistan to improve mental healthcare capacity and care for people living with diabetes.
Jointly organised by a consortium of leading institutions including Rawalpindi Medical University, Khyber Medical University, Aga Khan University, The Indus Hospital and Health Network, The Initiative in Pakistan, and the University of York, the event brought together a distinguished group of policymakers, researchers, health professionals, community leaders, and implementation experts.
Chief guest Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination of Pakistan, with fellow esteemed healthcare experts.
The risk of depression in diabetes patients is two to three times higher than in the general population, but Pakistan faces a severe shortage of qualified mental health experts. As Professor Najma Siddiqi, Professor of Psychiatry at Hull York Medical School, University of York, UK, and Chief Investigator of DiaDeM, highlighted, while addressing depression in diabetes is a high priority for Pakistan, there remains a considerable gap between the demand for effective treatments and the capacity to provide them.
Central to the meeting was the review of key findings from the DiaDeM project. This cutting-edge research, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), has demonstrated that:
- Behavioural Activation (BA) is a simple, culturally appropriate, and highly effective talking therapy for depression.
- BA can be administered by individuals who are not mental health specialists, using a task-shifting approach that facilitates low-cost and effective mental health treatment
- DiaDeM evidence shows that BA is effective in reducing the severity of depression over just six sessions, and is feasible and acceptable to people living with diabetes and depression in South Asia.
- These sessions can also give patients confidence in controlling their diabetes.
With the invaluable insights of local advocates and international delegates from the UK, USA, and Afghanistan involved in policy development, health systems, and research, Wednesday’s meeting provided the opportunity for collaboration and planning amongst key stakeholders and decision-makers. Together, these participants successfully built a consensus and kickstarted future work to scale up depression care in diabetes using a task-shifting approach to effectively address Pakistan’s mental health ‘treatment gap’.
Distinguished guests attend discussions at the DiaDeM Expert Consensus Meeting
This collaborative effort marks a crucial step towards providing better physical and mental health facilities to millions of affected individuals. By integrating world-leading research findings with national policy, the initiative aims to enhance the capacity to provide mental healthcare and ensure that those living with diabetes receive the support they need. The goal is to move towards a future where mental health issues are identified and treated early, leading to better outcomes for patients.
The event was honoured by the presence of Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination of Pakistan, as the chief guest, and Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed Barath, State Minister for Health.
The event was covered on local media: PTV News, and here and here.
