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Overview
WellCheck – Mental Health (MH) is a community-based clinic model delivering subsidized, integrated physical and mental health services in underserved urban settings. Established to address barriers created by poverty, distance, and limited public health infrastructure, WellCheck provides accessible, high-quality care close to where people live. By embedding mental health screening and counseling within routine primary care, the program ensures early identification of depression and anxiety and timely access to support for vulnerable populations. The WellCheck clinic operates in Orangi Town, Karachi, serving a densely populated, low-income urban community with limited access to subsidized healthcare.
1,100+
individuals screened for mental health conditions
94%
of symptomatic individuals enrolled in counselling
Our Partners
- GiveWell
Support from partners enables WellCheck to deliver affordable, high-quality care and sustain integrated mental health services at the community level.
The Need
The Need
Limited access to services
Free or subsidized healthcare facilities are scarce, and long travel distances to hospitals further restrict access for low-income communities.
In Pakistan, widespread poverty and resource constraints prevent many individuals from seeking timely medical care.
Hidden mental health burden
Depression and anxiety often go undetected and untreated, particularly where mental health services are separate from primary care.
Financial and social barriers
Out-of-pocket costs and stigma discourage help-seeking, leading to delayed care and worsening outcomes.
There is a critical need for nearby, affordable, and integrated health services that respond to both physical and mental health needs.
Our Approach: Delivery
WellCheck applies an integrated primary care model that embeds mental health within routine service delivery.
- Proximity-based care: The clinic is located within the community, reducing travel time and cost barriers.
- Integrated screening: Mental health screening is offered alongside physical health services to normalize care-seeking and enable early detection.
- Subsidized services: Affordable care ensures access for low-income populations without financial hardship.
- Counseling and follow-up: Individuals symptomatic for depression and anxiety are enrolled in counseling, supporting continuity of care and improved outcomes.
This model strengthens access while reducing stigma by positioning mental health as a core component of overall wellbeing.
Our partners
PDI has a nationwide footprint, focusing on districts identified by the national STH survey— 47 at-risk districts requiring annual deworming.
The Drivers Behind Our Impact
The Drivers Behind Our Impact
Integrated care delivery
Embedding mental health within primary care reduces stigma and improves identification of need.
Community proximity
Locally based services overcome distance and access barriers common in low-income urban settings.
Affordability
Subsidized care ensures financial constraints do not prevent help-seeking.
High engagement
Strong screening-to-enrollment rates reflect trust in services and relevance to community needs.
Scalable clinic model
WellCheck offers a replicable approach for expanding integrated physical and mental health services in similar settings.