Cost of Care
Private treatment is too expensive for most, while free public services are severely overcrowded or inaccessible.
Counselling & psychosocial support
A safe space to heal, grow, and hope again.
We offer counselling and emotional support to children and families who often have nowhere else to turn. Our trained facilitators create safe, confidential spaces so that pain can be heard and people can move forward.
Cost & access 
Awareness 
Infrastructure 
Stigma & culture The counselling gap in Pakistan
Why this work exists
76–85%
Estimated mental health treatment gap in Pakistan
Pakistan faces a critical counselling gap, with a treatment gap for mental health estimated between 76% and 85%. This is driven by a severe shortage of professionals, deep-rooted social stigma, and inadequate infrastructure. The situation is particularly dire in rural areas, where professional help is almost nonexistent.
Barriers to access
What keeps people from getting help
Our response
How Living Branch tackles these barriers
We map our work directly to the barriers people face—so more families can access safe, dignified support.
How we tackle it
We provide free counselling in community-based spaces so cost is not a barrier, with no need for travel to expensive private clinics.
How we tackle it
We run awareness sessions and work through trusted community channels so people learn that emotional and mental distress are real and treatable.
How we tackle it
We don’t rely on hospital beds—we use community spaces and trained local facilitators, bringing support closer to where people live.
How we tackle it
We offer confidential, non-judgmental spaces and family-inclusive sessions so seeking help becomes acceptable and families can support recovery.
Who is affected
The pain we see every day
Children with no one to talk to
Young people facing stress, loss, or abuse often have no safe space to be heard.
Families under strain
Caregivers juggling poverty and trauma without support burn out or withdraw.
Youth facing anxiety alone
School pressure, identity, and future worries with nowhere to turn.
Communities after crisis
Disaster or violence leaves lasting emotional wounds with little follow-up care.
Our approach
How Living Branch is tackling it
We combine trained facilitators, safe spaces, and follow-up so that counselling reaches those who need it most.
Individual & family counselling
One-to-one and family sessions in a safe, confidential setting.
Trained, caring facilitators
Local facilitators trained in basic psychosocial support and referral.
Safe spaces
Dedicated, calm spaces where children and adults can open up without judgment.
Follow-up and referral
Ongoing check-ins and links to specialised care when needed.
Impact in numbers
What our programme shows
From our programme data and participant surveys, we see real change in coping and wellbeing.
340+ Individuals supported
72% Reported better coping (survey)
1,200+ Sessions in 2024
12 Trained facilitators
Source: Living Branch programme survey and records, 2024
You can help more people find a safe space.
Your support funds trained facilitators, safe spaces, and follow-up care so that children and families don’t have to face their pain alone.