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Overview
IMPACT strengthens access to mental health care by integrating psychosocial support services within existing primary and tertiary healthcare facilities across Pakistan. The program trains and deploys lay counselors, uses digital tools for screening and follow-up, and ensures strong supervision by psychologists to deliver timely, empathetic, and confidential support for people experiencing depression and anxiety. By embedding mental health into everyday care settings, IMPACT reduces barriers to treatment and brings support closer to the communities that need it most. IMPACT was active in 23 primary care clinics across Karachi, in partnership with community-based and charitable healthcare networks.
156,000+
patients screened for depression and anxiety
10,000+
counselling sessions conducted
2,307
individuals completed counselling
52
lay counsellors trained and deployed
Our Partners
- SINA Health, Education & Welfare Trust
- Ziauddin Memorial Trust (ZMT)
- Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN)
- Grand Challenges Canada (initial innovation funding)
The Need
The Need
Pakistan has one of the highest reported
Pakistan has one of the highest reported rates of psychological distress globally, with an estimated 50 million people experiencing common mental health disorders. Women and individuals living in low-income communities are disproportionately affected. Yet, less than 1% of the national health budget is dedicated to mental health, leaving the majority of people with little to no access to care.
Most individuals facing emotional distress
Most individuals facing emotional distress do not seek help due to stigma, lack of awareness, and the scarcity of trained mental health professionals. The result is a wide treatment gap and significant social and economic burden, with 90% of mental health expenses paid out-of-pocket. Expanding accessible, affordable, and trusted care is urgently needed.
Our Approach: Delivery
IMPACT integrates mental health services directly into existing healthcare systems to make care routine, accessible, and sustainable. The program is built on three core strategies:
- Training Lay Counselors: Community-rooted counselors are trained using IRD’s Basic Counseling Skills curriculum, covering recognition of depression and anxiety, effective communication, counseling techniques, and problem-solving support.
- Digital Screening & Case Management: A customized mHealth application enables mental health workers to screen individuals, enroll clients, track progress, and maintain secure, paperless case histories.
- Structured Supervision: Lay counselors receive continuous support through weekly supervision with psychologists and bi-monthly refresher trainings, ensuring quality care and structured escalation for complex cases.
Through strong partnerships with leading primary care networks, mental health becomes a routine part of patient care, rather than a separate or stigmatized service.
Impact Data
Since 2018, IMPACT has:
- Integrated mental health care into 23 primary healthcare facilities across Karachi
- Trained and deployed 52 lay counselors to deliver frontline psychosocial support
- Screened over 156,000 patients for depression and anxiety in routine clinic visits
- Identified 6% of screened individuals as requiring additional mental health support
- Conducted more than 10,000 counseling sessions
- Supported 2,307 individuals to complete counseling with measurable improvements in wellbeing
These results demonstrate that mental health care can be effectively delivered within existing health systems when services are trusted, culturally grounded, and community-based.
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
Task-Shifting & Capacity Building
Expands the mental health workforce by empowering trained lay counselors.
Integrated Care Pathways
Embeds mental health into routine clinic workflows for early detection and continuity of care.
Digital Enablement
mHealth tools support quality, consistency, and scale.
Cultural Alignment & Community Trust
Counselors are selected from the communities they serve, improving acceptability and uptake.
Clinical Supervision
Ensures safe, structured, and evidence-based counseling practices.