Islamabad: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) has announced plans to host the Pakistan Global Mental Health Summit 2026 on October 1-2 in Islamabad, aligning with World Mental Health Day. The event aims to address mental health challenges under the theme “Building Climate-Resilient and Future-Ready Mental Health Systems for Children, Young People and Communities.”

According to Press Information Department, Pakistan faces a significant burden of mental health issues, with services remaining limited and primarily accessible in urban areas. The upcoming Summit seeks to address these challenges by convening various stakeholders, including government representatives, mental health experts, and civil society, to discuss critical topics such as child and adolescent mental health, suicide prevention, and the integration of mental health into disaster-risk-reduction and climate adaptation planning.

The country has been significantly impacted by climate-related disasters, such as the 2022 floods, which highlighted the urgent need for robust mental health systems. The Ministry is also working on the National Mental Health Policy 2026-35, which will be a focal point of discussion during the Summit, aiming to translate national commitments into actionable regional policies.

The Summit is expected to result in the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration on Mental Health, reinforcing political and institutional commitment to developing equitable and community-based mental health services in Pakistan. The event will also aim to foster partnerships and investment in mental health, engaging organizations like WHO and UNICEF to work towards universal health coverage for mental health in the country.