Written By:Sanaa Khetran
Development Professional
Polaris Response & Resilience Foundation
Sanaashpk7@gmail.com
Published By:ANI News Agency
National Consultation on Mental Health Policy Framework for MH policy 2026-2035 was held at Ramada Hotel from 1st-2nd of September, 2026. It was arranged in assistance with GIHD, Shifa Tameer-e Millat, UNICEF and WHO by Ministry of Health, Pakistan. The basis of the consultation is conferences held abroad and findings incorporated in the inception report. They defined policy areas and that were descriptive in nature for an electronic survey for which groups were formed. Not align with the strategy, the feasibility report based upon surveys conducted through NGOs in communities, teaching hospitals working on mental health, educational institutes would have been a better option.
If we say that it was a platform for discussion to get feedback for the development of mental health policy, it is wrong as speakers were invited to inaugurate the session and though some questions were asked but there was no coherence between the policy points displayed in presentation mode, moderator's description and electronic survey. The groups were divided depicting provinces but as no one knew what was happening in real, many sat as per convenience and electronic survey could not tally provincial feedback.
The question arises that while making policies, why we don't consider feedback from urban and rural communities for which by and large the policy is being developed. That's why we have seen lack in policy development and implementation. There is no single policy drafted that has inclusive growth model. Mental health issues have seen increased in Pakistan due to many factors that could be unemployment, inflation, lack of bonding and understanding in relationships, and now many other like children using mobile phones, games Al and cyber insecurity.
Addressing issues is prevention and building resilient approach through cognitive behavioral therapy starting from early childhood can bring down the accelerating trend in suicide. All stakeholders should be listed and invited for open dialogue. NGOs can collect data through survey from communities. Focus group sessions are to be held. This session went wrong and needs to be held again not to waste more time and budget as the policy drafted on these lines as happened in Islamabad will only rest in cover and there will be a huge gap remained in policy development and implementation.
