Pakistan Unveils 10-Year Mental Health Policy to Address 95pc Treatment Gap
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan on Thursday launched the National Mental Health Policy 2026-2035 at the Pakistan Global Mental Health Summit, aiming to reach more than 32.4 million people who need mental healthcare across the country.
The policy was launched by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Institute of Human Development (GIHD) — Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (STMU).
Held in Islamabad from October 1 to 2 under the leadership of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the summit has brought together 800 participants, both in person and online. Mental health specialists, academics, international development partners and policymakers are taking part in the event.
The summit is focused on evidence-based measures to advance the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2030 in Pakistan and globally. The plan is an international framework approved by all member states of the World Health Assembly.
According to WHO estimates, about 32.4 million people in Pakistan require mental health care. However, only around 5 percent of the population has access to mental health services, leaving an estimated treatment gap of nearly 95 percent.
The shortage of trained professionals remains a major challenge. Pakistan has around 0.19 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, compared with an average of seven psychiatrists per 100,000 people in high-income countries.
Speaking at the launch, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal described mental health as an emergency in Pakistan, calling it both a national security issue and a national economic issue.
“We need to bring everyone together, including every ministry and every individual. Everybody has to play their role in order to create a safe and healthy space to live for the people of this country,” he said.
The minister said the conference must lead to action and thanked national and provincial institutions, authorities, and international and national partners for joining efforts to address the crisis.
Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath said the National Mental Health Policy reflected a shared commitment to bring care closer to every family.
“Working with provincial governments, we will translate this commitment into practical action in schools, primary healthcare and communities, so that people can access support early, with dignity and respect,” he said.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said investment in mental health was a smart investment. He noted that every dollar spent on addressing conditions such as depression and anxiety brings four dollars in returns through improved health and better productivity.
“There is no shame in needing mental health support. Anyone can be affected at some point in our lives,” he said, adding that WHO was committed to working with Pakistan and other countries to ensure access to mental health support for all, regardless of where they live or who they are.
UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside said mental health and well-being were essential for children’s learning, development and growth.
She said children and adolescents must be placed at the centre of mental health efforts, with increased attention to prevention, early identification and care. She also said that as climate change and digital environments increasingly affect young lives, mental health resilience must be part of building a healthier and more resilient generation.
Dr Syed Usman Hamdani, Director of the Global Institute of Human Development, said Pakistan was going through a significant transformation in its mental health agenda.
He said sustained investments in research, implementation science, policy development and community-based innovation had shown that effective mental healthcare could be delivered through primary healthcare, schools and communities using scalable and evidence-informed approaches.
Pakistan aims to make the Global Mental Health Summit its flagship international platform for advancing mental health policy, implementation science, innovation and global partnerships, while promoting equitable, climate-resilient and future-ready mental health systems.
