Expert Meeting in Islamabad Addresses the Overlooked Link Between Diabetes and Depression

The Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) participated in a landmark expert consensus meeting titled “Tackling Depression in Diabetes” held in Islamabad. The event was jointly organized by a consortium of leading national and international institutions, including Indus Hospital & Health Network, Rawalpindi Medical University, Khyber Medical University, Aga Khan University, The Initiative in Pakistan, and the University of York, UK.
Representing IHHN were Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, President, IHHN, and Prof. Abdul Basit, Director of the Indus Diabetes & Endocrinology Centre (IDEC), both of whom reiterated the network’s commitment to advancing integrated physical and mental healthcare in Pakistan.
The consensus meeting brought together a distinguished group of policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, implementation experts, and community leaders to address a growing concern—the burden of depression in people living with diabetes. In Pakistan, around 33 million individuals are affected by diabetes, and 30–40% of them experience mental stress and depression. Despite the urgent need, access to qualified mental health professionals remains alarmingly limited.
A focal point of the meeting was the review of outcomes from the DiaDeM project (Diabetes and Depression in South Asia), led by Prof. Najma Siddiqi, Professor of Psychiatry at Hull York Medical School, University of York. The study, funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), offered critical insights into the integration of Behavioural Activation (BA) — a simple, culturally sensitive talking therapy — into non-specialist settings.
Key findings from the DiaDeM project include:
• BA is highly effective in treating depression and can be delivered by trained non-mental health specialists using a task-shifting approach.
• The therapy significantly reduces depressive symptoms in just six sessions.
• Patients who receive BA also report greater confidence in managing their diabetes.
• The model is low-cost, scalable, and particularly suited for South Asian populations.

The event also provided a forum for national and international delegates from the UK, USA, and Afghanistan to exchange insights and strategies. These discussions culminated in a consensus to scale up depression care in diabetes using a task-shifting model, filling the treatment gap and addressing one of Pakistan’s most pressing public health challenges.
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and national policy, moving toward a future where mental health is prioritized alongside physical health. This integrated model of care has the potential to transform lives, reduce stigma, and enable early intervention for depression among diabetes patients.

The event was graced by Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, who served as the Chief Guest, and State Minister for Health, Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed Barath, further underscoring the government’s growing commitment to mental health integration within primary care.