Islamabad, October 9,2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for greater awareness, early diagnosis and improved access to mental health services, stressing that mental well-being must be treated with the same seriousness as physical health.
In his message on World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10, the prime minister said Pakistan joined the international community in reaffirming the importance of addressing mental health conditions and psychological challenges.
“There can be no health without mental health,” he said.
The theme for this year, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” highlights the importance of listening to people experiencing mental health conditions and incorporating their perspectives into policies, healthcare services and decisions affecting their lives.
Shehbaz emphasized that the meaningful participation of affected individuals, alongside expert input, was essential to developing effective strategies and strengthening mental health systems.
He said mental health extended beyond the prevention and treatment of illnesses, playing a vital role in the healthy development of young people and enabling them to realize their full potential.
The prime minister stressed that the psychological and emotional challenges faced by young people in developing their personalities, nurturing their abilities and achieving intellectual growth must be addressed at both individual and societal levels to help channel their talents towards national development and prosperity.
He also called for mental health conditions to receive the same acceptance as physical illnesses at the individual, family and societal levels.
Shehbaz said a supportive and non-judgmental environment was essential to ensuring that people could seek timely treatment and focus on recovery without fear of stigma or social pressure.
He acknowledged that many people continued to face discrimination, delays in seeking treatment and barriers to essential support. The government, he said, was committed to changing discriminatory attitudes and removing obstacles that prevent people from accessing care.
The prime minister said the Ministry of National Health Services was working on Pakistan’s National Mental Health Policy 2026–35, which aims to provide a framework for more accessible, equitable and rights-based mental healthcare.
He said effective implementation of the policy, with a focus on tangible and measurable outcomes, remained a government priority.
The government is also working to strengthen early diagnosis and intervention and improve access to quality mental health services in collaboration with provincial governments and other stakeholders.
According to the prime minister, these efforts include integrating mental health services into primary healthcare facilities, educational institutions and community-based platforms.
Shehbaz highlighted the need to give particular attention to children, young people, women and vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
He also stressed the importance of supporting communities affected by poverty, displacement, emergencies and the adverse impacts of climate change.
The prime minister said effective treatment, care and rehabilitation required sustained cooperation among governments, educational institutions, families, civil society, mental health professionals and development partners.
On the occasion, he urged citizens to help build a society where people could speak openly about mental health without fear, stigma or embarrassment.
He said everyone should have the opportunity and support needed to lead a healthy, active and fulfilling life.
