Federal govt launches National Mental Health Policy 2026-2035
ISLAMABAD: The federal government, in collaboration with global and local partners, has launched the National Mental Health Policy 2026-2035, aiming to reach over 32.4 million people in need of mental health care. The policy was formally launched on Thursday by the Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulation, Mustafa Kamal, on the occasion of Pakistan’s Global Mental Health…
The federal government, in partnership with global and local entities, has unveiled the National Mental Health Policy for 2026-2035 at Pakistan's Global Mental Health Summit. The summit, held in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and the Global Institute of Human Development at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, aimed to discuss actions to advance the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2030.
Roughly 32.4 million Pakistanis require mental health care, yet only 5% of the population currently receives such services, leaving a treatment gap of around 95%. Dr Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulation, emphasized the need for comprehensive mental health care as a national security and economic issue.
He stressed that all stakeholders must unite to develop a safe and healthy environment for Pakistanis. The policy seeks to bring mental health care closer to families, starting in schools, primary healthcare, and communities. Global leaders and experts underscored that mental health is a fundamental aspect of overall well-being, vital for children's learning, development, and thriving.
They also pointed out the importance of mental health resilience in the face of climate change and digital environments. Pakistan is determined to strengthen its mental health agenda through evidence-based approaches in primary healthcare, schools, and communities, aiming to create a future-ready mental health system.
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