This unit has been set up to help establish an institutional framework and launch a coordinated effort to mainstream mental health as a national priority as envision in the National Economic Transformational Plan.









Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) service model is a digital, rights-based and scalable solution to address the critical gaps in existing mental healthcare and scale up MHPSS services in Pakistan. It aims to strengthen the existing mental healthcare system by utilizing evidence-based resources to build the capacity of a mental health workforce outside tertiary care hospitals; supervise this workforce to provide MHPSS services; establish a referral pathway; and collect relevant data.

April 24, 2026
To integrate mental healthcare in primary care, 36 physicians in Haripur were trained to manage common mental disorders. After 6 months of remote supervision, a 3-day refresher workshop (21st–23rd April 2026) was held to reinforce clinical skills. The training is supported by BMZ through GIZ and International Medical Corps in Pakistan.
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April 17, 2026
Pakistan's mental health legislation, rooted in the 2001 Mental Health Ordinance, predates the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and lacks full alignment with rights-based frameworks. Following WHO–OHCHR guidance, a gap analysis identified five major domains — institutional, capacity, resources, legal, and cross-cutting challenges — explaining why legislative provisions have not translated into practice. A digital assessment tool based on these findings has been developed and will be shared with provincial governments for review to ensure reforms are contextually informed and practically achievable.
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April 10, 2026
A 3-day mhGAP refresher training was held in Kohat (April 6-8, 2026) for primary care physicians to strengthen mental health service delivery. Supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit and International Medical Corps, the training reinforced clinical skills, improved adherence to mhGAP guidelines, and enhanced coordination among healthcare providers.' Despite challenges like workload and time constraints, the workshop helped strengthen referral pathways and sustain quality MHPSS services in the district.
Read moreComprehensive evidence-based printed and digital resources have been developed for MHPSS services in Pakistan. Through robust methodological frameworks, well-established international guidelines were contextualized, adapted and translated to achieve the objectives of MHPSS service.



Mental Health Strategic Planning & Coordination Unit Health Section Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives