Institute of Omics and Health Research

28/02/2026

"Why do we ignore what we can’t see?

The event at Sarhad University (SUIT), in collaboration with IOHR and SUIT ORIC, took a hard look at Youth Mental Health.

Our guest speaker Dr. Khoula Ismail (Clinical Psychologist), gave an insightful lecture on how rigid societal norms and cultural pressures, along with recreational drug use, are silently destroying the mental health of our youth. We explored why mental health is so often neglected in our community and how we can change the narrative to one of support and understanding.

Thanks to VC SUIT, Director ORIC Dr. Shabir Ahmed, Head of Pharmacy Department Dr. Sudhair Abbas, and students for being part of this awareness session.

06/01/2026

Excited to share that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the University of Peshawar and IOHR to collaborate on the Youth Mental Health Research Study - GEMPAK.
This partnership marks a significant step toward understanding and supporting the mental well-being of our younger generation.
Looking forward to impactful insights and meaningful change.
Grateful to the Vice Chancellor, UOP, and the team for making this happen.

24/12/2025

IOHR signed MOU with Sarhad University of Science and Technology for the research project GEMPAK focusing on Youth Mental Health.

03/12/2025

02/12/2025

3rd Session of Youth Mental Health Awareness Session – A Successful Event!

The Youth Mental Health GEMPAK Initiative, organized in collaboration with the Department of Psychology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, and the Institute of Omics and Health Research (IOHR), was successfully conducted today.
We were honoured to have Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ayub, Professorial Research Fellow at University College London (UCL), UK, joined us online from London to share valuable insights on youth mental health, practical wellbeing strategies, and the importance of early help-seeking.

Special thanks to the participants and Dr. Mudasir Hussain, Head of Psychology Department, for welcoming and arranging the session.

Join the survey and shape mental health science in Pakistan. Participation is voluntary and confidential. (https://redcap.link/bsos1kyj)

02/12/2025

Youth Mental Health GEMPAK - 2nd Awareness Session Held at Kohat University of Science and Technology

We are pleased to announce the success of our 2nd awareness session on Youth Mental Health GEMPAK at Kohat University of Science and Technology. The session discussed major mental health challenges faced by youth and practical strategies for wellbeing.

Special thanks to the management of Kohat University of Science and Technology, Dr. Fawad Ali, Chairman ECT Department, and Dr. Abdul Wahab, Chairman Pharmacy Department, for their support and hosting Institute of Omics and Health Research (IOHR).

Join the survey and shape mental health science in Pakistan. Participation is voluntary and confidential. (https://redcap.link/bsos1kyj)

18/11/2025

Youth Mental Health GEMPAK - First Awareness Session Successfully Held at IMSciences, Peshawar

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Youth Mental Health GEMPAK initiative by the Institute of Omics and Health Research (IOHR), with our first awareness session held at IMSciences, Peshawar.

The session was delivered by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ayub, Professorial Research Fellow at University College London UK, who discussed the major mental health challenges faced by youth today, practical strategies for wellbeing, and the importance of early help-seeking rather than ignoring symptoms.

We are grateful to IMSciences Peshawar and Miss. Nida Syed Head of Psychology Department for hosting IOHR.

Together, we aim to build a healthier, better-informed generation.

Please visit the Survey Link. Participation is voluntary, confidential, and vital to shaping the science of mental health in Pakistan.
🔗 Join here → https://redcap.link/bsos1kyj

11/11/2025

🌟 Are You 18–25? Your Voice Can Shape Mental Health in Pakistan! 🌟

Join GEMPAK—a national study exploring how lifestyle, stress, sleep, social media, and genetics affect young people’s mental health.

✅ Quick online participation
✅ Stepwise questionnaires every 6 months
✅ Help researchers make real change in prevention & treatment
✅ Spread awareness and empower your peers

🎯 Why Participate?

Be a Mental Health Champion—Contribute to research that can improve support for young people.

Make Your Voice Count—Share your experiences to help your peers and universities build a healthier, happier campus.

💻 Sign up now: Participation is voluntary, confidential, and vital to shaping the science of mental health in Pakistan.

🔗 Join here → https://redcap.link/bsos1kyj
OR
🔗 Scan the QR Code in the advertisement shared.

03/11/2025

Youth Mental Health in Pakistan

Mental health challenges are shaped by a complex interplay of genes, environment, and lived experience—yet much of what we know comes from Western populations. In Pakistan, where nearly two-thirds of the population is under 30, these dynamics remain largely unstudied.

Adolescence and young adulthood (ages 18–25) represent a critical window for brain development, emotional regulation, and resilience-building. However, factors such as academic stress, social expectations, unemployment, and close-relative marriages may influence mental well-being in unique ways—and we don’t yet understand how.

That’s why the Institute of Omics and Health Research (IOHR) has initiated a nationwide, long-term youth mental health study, designed to uncover how biological and social factors interact over time.

📅 Participants (ages 18–25) will complete short online surveys every six months for four years, helping researchers:

1. Identify genetic and environmental risk factors for mental disorders

2. Explore resilience and coping mechanisms unique to our context

3. Develop evidence-based prevention and early detection strategies

Participation is voluntary, confidential, and vital to shaping the science of mental health in Pakistan.

🔗 Join here → https://redcap.link/bsos1kyj
OR
🔗 Scan the QR Code in the advertisement shared.

23/09/2025