The Ministry of Health has started finalizing arrangements for the Global Mental Health Summit, scheduled to be held on October 1–2 in connection with World Mental Health Day.
The summit will be held under the theme “Building Climate-Resilient and Future-Ready Mental Health Systems for Children, Young People and Communities” with support from leading development partners.
According to the ministry, Pakistan faces a significant burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders, while mental health services remain fragmented and under-resourced.
An estimated 10–16% of adults have mild-to-moderate psychiatric conditions, while another 1–2% live with severe mental illness. The ministry said 80% or more of people with a diagnosable mental illness do not receive formal care in a given year.
Pakistan has more than 240 million people but only around 500 psychiatrists and 200 clinical psychologists. Only about 1% of psychiatric beds are reserved for children and adolescents.
The ministry is also developing the National Mental Health Policy 2026–35 in consultation with provinces and regions. The summit will provide a platform to advance the policy.
The event will bring together government officials, parliamentarians, UN partners, mental health experts, academics, development partners, young people, civil society, and people with lived experience.
Key discussions will cover child and adolescent mental health, suicide prevention, substance use, digital mental health, innovation, and climate-resilient mental health systems.
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