The Pakistan Football Federation organised a Student Mental Health Ambassador Programme workshop at the Beaconhouse School System Juniper Campus in Quetta as part of the Football4MentalHealth Pakistan Pilot, a joint collaboration with the UN Youth Office and UN Pakistan. PFF officials and representatives from the Balochistan Football Association attended the session to observe students taking the first steps as Mental Health Ambassadors.
The workshop brought football together with emotional wellbeing training and peer support skills, giving students practical tools to start important conversations about mental health. Facilitators emphasised how sport can create safe spaces for young people to recognise emotions, support each other and seek help when needed, reinforcing the role of Mental Health Ambassadors in school communities.
Students practised peer listening techniques and confidence-building activities designed for their school environment, preparing them to be approachable points of contact for classmates. The session highlighted local relevance in Quetta, showing how community-led initiatives can use football to strengthen youth resilience and foster supportive networks within Balochistan schools.
The pilot aims to nurture a network of trained ambassadors who will carry forward peer support efforts at Beaconhouse and beyond, with partners monitoring progress and exploring ways to expand the programme across other schools in the region.
