How to Volunteer in Mental Health Support with Lived Experience in Pakistan

It’s good that you want to turn what you’ve been through into something that helps other people – that is one of the most generous things a person can do. For Depression.pk, we do have a volunteering route, but it is currently open only to verified health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors) who want to offer direct support through our platform. You can find the details and the application form at /volunteer on our website.

If you’re not a health professional yet

Don’t take that as a closed door. Many of the people who use our service have been through their own struggles, and that lived experience is a kind of qualification itself – it’s just not the same as a clinical qualification for a helpline or support role. You can still make a real difference in other ways:

• Share Depression.pk with friends or family who might need it – word of mouth is how we reach people who would never search for help.
• Talk openly about your own experience when it feels safe to do so. That alone chips away at the stigma that stops so many people from reaching out.
• Reach out to someone you know who seems low, and just listen. No advice, no fixing. That is often exactly what a person needs.

If one day you decide to study psychology, counselling or social work, that lived experience will make you an exceptionally good professional, inshallah.

For now, if you just want to be around people who understand, our HEALING community at /community is a space where everyone is welcome – no qualifications needed. You can start there.