ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan on Thursday launched the National Mental Health Policy 2026-2035, aiming to reach more than 32.4 million people in need of mental health care across the country.
The policy was launched on the occasion of Pakistan’s Global Mental Health Summit, being held in Islamabad from October 1 to 2, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Institute of Human Development (GIHD), Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (STMU).
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal launched the policy, joined by national and provincial authorities, academia and representatives from WHO, UNICEF and GIHD-STMU.
Held under the leadership of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the summit has brought together 800 in-person and online participants, including mental health experts, academia, international development partners and policymakers.
The summit aims to discuss evidence-based actions to advance, in Pakistan and globally, the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2030, an international framework approved by all Member States of the World Health Assembly.
According to WHO estimates, around 32.4 million people in Pakistan need mental health care, while only about five per cent of the population has access to mental health services. This leaves a treatment gap of approximately 95 per cent.
The shortage of qualified professionals further limits access to care. Pakistan has around 0.19 psychiatrists per 100,000 population, compared with an average of seven psychiatrists per 100,000 people in high-income countries.
“Mental health is an emergency in Pakistan. It is national security issue. It is a national economic issue. We need to bring everyone together, including every ministry and every individual. Everybody has to play their role in order to create a safe and healthy space to live for the people of this country,” Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said.
“We really have to work hard. This conference needs to lead to action, and we are thankful to all national and provincial institutions, authorities, and international and national partners for working together to address this important crisis,” he added.
Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath said the National Mental Health Policy marked a shared commitment to bring care closer to every family.
“Working with provincial governments, we will translate this commitment into practical action in schools, primary healthcare and communities, so that people can access support early, with dignity and respect,” he said.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said investing in mental health was a smart investment.
“Every dollar invested in addressing conditions including depression and anxiety yields four dollars in returns through better health and improved productivity,” he said.
“There is no shame in needing mental health support. Anyone can be affected at some point in our lives. WHO is committed to working with Pakistan and all countries to ensure that everyone has access to the mental health support they need, no matter where they live or who they are; because there is no health without mental health,” he added.
UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside said mental health and well-being were fundamental to children’s ability to learn, develop and thrive.
“We must put children and adolescents at the centre of mental health efforts, with greater focus on prevention, early identification, and care. As climate change and digital environments increasingly affect young lives, mental health resilience must be part of building a healthier, more resilient generation,” she said.
Dr Syed Usman Hamdani, Director of the Global Institute of Human Development, said Pakistan was undergoing a significant transformation in its mental health agenda.
“Through sustained investments in research, implementation science, policy development and community-based innovation, the country has demonstrated that effective mental healthcare can be delivered through primary healthcare, schools and communities using scalable, evidence-informed approaches,” he said.
Pakistan aims to consolidate the Global Mental Health Summit as its flagship international platform for advancing mental health policy, implementation science, innovation and global partnerships, while promoting equitable, climate-resilient and future-ready mental health systems.
