ISLAMABAD: In a significant move to enhance mental health services across the country, the Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal announced the development of the National Mental Health Policy, aimed at bringing mental healthcare closer to families nationwide. The announcement was made during the opening session of the Pakistan Global Mental Health Summit 2026, which commenced in Islamabad today.

According to Radio Pakistan, the summit, themed “Building Climate-Resilient and Future-Ready Mental Health Systems for Children, Young People and Communities in Pakistan,” highlighted the urgent need for enhanced mental health services, as approximately 24 million individuals in Pakistan are estimated to require psychiatric assistance. The country currently faces a shortage of mental health professionals, with fewer than one psychiatrist available for every 500,000 people.

Minister Kamal emphasized that the National Mental Health Policy is designed to provide a unified national strategy while offering flexibility for provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to address their unique local needs. This policy initiative aims to address the critical gap in mental health services and improve access to care for communities across the nation.