Pakistan to Host Global Mental Health Summit Next Month

Pakistan is set to host a Global Mental Health Summit on October 1–2, coinciding with World Mental Health Day, according to the Ministry of Health. The event, themed “Building Climate-Resilient and Future-Ready Mental Health Systems for Children, Young People and Communities,” aims to promote a forward-thinking approach to mental health services for the nation's children, young people, and communities. The summit will be backed by global development partners.

Pakistan contends with a considerable burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders, coupled with fragmented and under-resourced mental health services. Approximately 10–16% of adults grapple with mild-to-moderate psychiatric conditions, while 1–2% live with severe mental illness. An overwhelming 80% of individuals with a diagnosable mental illness do not receive formal care in a given year.

Despite a population of over 240 million, Pakistan boasts only around 500 psychiatrists and 200 clinical psychologists. Alarmingly, merely 1% of psychiatric beds are allocated for children and adolescents.

The Ministry of Health is currently formulating the National Mental Health Policy 2026–35, liaising with provincial and regional stakeholders. The summit serves as a platform to propel the policy forward. It will convene government officials, parliamentarians, United Nations partners, mental health experts, academics, development partners, young people, civil society, and individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges.

The summit will feature key discussions on child and adolescent mental health, suicide prevention, substance use, digital mental health, innovation, and the development of climate-resilient mental health systems.