ISLAMABAD, Sept 08 (INP): The health experts have termed the mental health problems among major causes for overall disease burden worldwide. They said that getting and staying physically active will help improve your physical and mental health The health experts were speaking during Shifa International Hospital organized hiking trip in connection with World Physical Therapy Day, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of wellness, mobility and independence. A large number of Doctors, Shifa employees, Citizens and their families participated in the event. The participants were holding placards and banners inscribed with encouraging slogans for good mental health and awareness quotes. While addressing the gathering, the hospital’s Patient Facilitation Department Administrator Dr. Lubna Sohail said the average age was rising all over the world, leading to an increasing role for physical therapists to ensure that people remain mobile and participate fully in society. After treatment, the rehabilitation process begins and a physical therapist plays a very important role in bringing patients back to normal life. Dr. Lubna Sohail further stated that Exercise and activity have a wide range of health benefits for your mind as well as your body. As qualified experts in movement and exercise, physical therapists are best placed to give advice on how to improve your physical health, decrease your anxiety symptoms and improve your quality of life. The senior manager for rehabilitation, Kashif Khan, said that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health condition of some sort during their lifetime. Mental health problems are one of the main causes of the overall disease burden worldwide. Exercise is an evidence-based treatment for people with depression, and physical therapists work with people who may have depression alongside long-term health issues. Getting and staying physically active will help improve your physical and mental health, he concluded. INP/SB/AK