Literary circles highlight healing power of reading on World Mental Health Day

ISLAMABAD: World Mental Health Day was observed recently across the globe, with literary organisations and mental health practitioners highlighting the therapeutic value of reading and its growing role in emotional well-being.

Across reading spaces, public libraries, and digital initiatives, advocates emphasised that books are increasingly being viewed as more than leisure material, with experts linking reading habits to reduced stress levels and improved emotional regulation.

Muhammad Akbar Niazi, Vice President of the literary, social and cultural organisation Soach and former Joint Secretary of Halqa Arbab-e-Zauq, described books as “silent therapists”, saying they create an internal space of calm amid external pressure.

“Reading allows the mind to detach from external pressures, creating a safe emotional space where empathy and calm can grow,” he said, adding that even short reading sessions can have measurable effects on anxiety and focus.

He noted that “the act of reading slows the heartbeat and softens anxiety”, arguing that encouraging reading habits is directly linked to improving mental health outcomes.

Separately, Zohaib Chaudhry, Director of Planning and Promotion at Pakistan Sadequain Foundation, said literature and art should be seen as tools of emotional recovery rather than only entertainment.

He said engagement with literature enables individuals to process emotions, reflect on personal struggles, and develop resilience through imagination and thought.

Chaudhry also called on literary and cultural institutions to take a stronger role in public discourse on mental health, adding that initiatives promoting reading culture and bibliotherapy are essential for building awareness and offering accessible forms of stress relief.