World Brain Day — Intelligence, Awareness, and Responsibility

By: Dr Jamshaid Nazar

Human beings are called “the best of all creations”, and if we reflect on this honor, its foundation lies in the human brain. It is the brain that gives us the power to think, understand, create, and decide. Sadly, while we pay great attention to physical health, we often neglect the importance of mental and brain health. On the occasion of ‘‘World Brain Day”, we must remind ourselves that the human brain is the most extraordinary masterpiece of nature — and protecting it is our greatest responsibility.

The story of ‘’Albert Einstein”, the most intelligent man in the world, perfectly illustrates this truth. Surprisingly, in childhood, he was considered mentally weak because he could not speak until the age of nine. Einstein also suffered from a mental condition known as ‘’Autism”, which made him introverted and deeply absorbed in his own thoughts. One day, while sitting at the dining table, his mother served him soup. After taking the first sip, he said his very first sentence: “The soup is too hot.” His mother, astonished, asked, “My dear son, why didn’t you speak before?” Einstein replied innocently, “Because everything was normal before , there was no need to speak.” This simple answer not only revealed his sharp intellect but also gave a glimpse of the genius he would one day become.

As time passed, Einstein’s intellectual development accelerated rapidly, and he became the greatest physicist of the 20th century. He unveiled mysteries of the universe that changed the course of human thought forever. However, perhaps he knew that scientists might want to study his brain after his death, so he left a will stating that his body or brain should not be used for research and should be buried instead.

But fate had other plans. In 1955, after Einstein’s death, the pathologist ‘’Dr. Thomas Harvey”, who performed his autopsy, violated his will and stole his brain. Harvey cut the brain into 240 pieces and preserved them in jars, hiding them in his basement for forty years. He believed he could revolutionize science by studying Einstein’s brain, but since he was not a brain specialist, his efforts were unsuccessful. He lost his job and faced investigations, but he never revealed what he had done. Shortly before his death in 2007, Dr. Harvey finally returned the preserved pieces of Einstein’s brain. Today, 46 of those pieces are displayed at the Museum in Philadelphia.This incident makes us realize that the true value of the human brain lies not merely in its structure but in how it is used. It is the tool that enables humans to dream, to strive, and to change the world.

In recognition of this importance, every year on October 10, the world observes World Mental Health Day, aimed at raising awareness about mental health and promoting compassion and treatment for those affected by mental illness. This year’s global theme “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies” draws attention to the urgent need for accessible mental health services during crises, natural disasters, conflicts, and emergencies.

Millions of people around the world face mental distress not only due to personal challenges but also as a result of wars, earthquakes, floods, pandemics, and displacement. Such catastrophes can deeply affect psychological stability, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. In these difficult times, access to mental health care is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Communities recovering from disasters need trained counselors, emergency helplines, and mental health professionals just as much as they need food, shelter, and medicine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one billion people around the world suffer from some form of mental or neurological disorder, with depression being the most common. One in every five individuals is affected. The United Nations reports that in Pakistan, about 24 million people are living with psychological or mental health issues — with women and youth being the most affected groups. Unfortunately, the number of mental health specialists in Pakistan is extremely low compared to the growing need.

Inflation, unemployment, domestic pressures, social intolerance and uncertainty about the future have made mental stress a widespread problem in our society. Many people suffer in silence, avoiding help out of fear of being labeled “crazy.” This stigma remains one of our society’s biggest challenges.

It is essential that the government launches public awareness campaigns about mental health, establishes counseling centers in educational institutions and ensures emergency mental health services in hospitals and disaster-prone areas. The media, too, must play its part in spreading the message that mental health is just as important as physical health.

Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” But imagination can only thrive when the mind is healthy. Therefore, on this World Brain Day, let us pledge to care for our minds, our thoughts, and our emotions — because a healthy brain is the foundation of a resilient and compassionate world.

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