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Ambassadors for Mental Health — Pakistan
Building a movement for mental health awareness, participation and action.
Pakistan’s National Mental Health Policy 2026–2035 sets out a vision for a more inclusive, accessible and responsive mental health system. Turning that vision into reality calls for a whole-of-society approach—one that brings together people with lived experience, families, young people, professionals and communities.
The Mental Health Centre of Excellence Hub supports collaboration, capacity building and the implementation of national mental health priorities. Its flagship initiative, Ambassadors for Mental Health — Pakistan, mobilises stakeholders across the country to advance mental health awareness, advocacy and meaningful participation, aligned with Policy Area 10: Lived Experience and Social Participation.
Together, let’s listen to lived experiences, amplify real voices and turn them into meaningful action. Join us in championing the inclusion of people with lived experience in shaping mental health policies, services and decisions—because nothing about us, without us.
Who Can Join
Who Are We Looking For?
We are building a diverse, inclusive network of people and organisations who want to make a meaningful contribution to mental health in Pakistan.
You may be:
- A person with lived experience of mental health challenges, including someone who has accessed mental health support or services.
- A family member or caregiver who wants to improve understanding, support and care.
- A young person or student interested in mental health awareness, peer engagement or advocacy.
- A mental health or allied professional, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, social workers, nurses and other healthcare providers.
- A researcher, academic or educator interested in evidence-informed mental health action.
- A community leader or civil society representative working with underserved or marginalised communities.
- A media professional, content creator or public figure who can help communicate responsible, stigma-free mental health messages.
- A policymaker or public-sector professional interested in strengthening mental health systems and community participation.
- A representative of an institution or organisation, including universities, healthcare facilities, research centres, NGOs, professional associations and private-sector organisations.
We welcome contributions from people working across diverse communities and areas of mental health, including youth mental health, substance use, digital mental health, climate-related mental health challenges and psychosocial support.
You do not need to be a mental health professional to become an ambassador. A commitment to mental health, respectful engagement and meaningful participation is what matters.
How the Ambassador Network Works
One shared foundation. Multiple pathways for action.
Every ambassador joins through Policy Area 10: Lived Experience and Social Participation. This provides a shared foundation for meaningful participation, inclusion and accountability across the mental health system.
Ambassadors can then select one or more additional policy areas that align with their interests, expertise, professional role or lived experience.
Explore the National Mental Health Policy Areas
- Policy Area 1
Leadership, Governance and Coordination
Strengthening leadership, collaboration and accountability across mental health systems.
- Policy Area 2
Integrated Mental Health Services and Universal Health Coverage
Promoting accessible, coordinated and people-centred mental health services.
- Policy Area 3
Mental Health Workforce Development
Supporting a skilled, supported and responsive mental health workforce.
- Policy Area 4
Person-Centred and Rights-Based Care
Advancing dignity, autonomy, inclusion and rights in mental health services.
- Policy Area 5
Mental Health Information, Research and Innovation
Promoting evidence-informed practice, research and responsible innovation.
- Policy Area 6
Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Social Determinants
Addressing the social and environmental factors that influence mental health and wellbeing.
- Policy Area 7
Child, Adolescent and Youth Mental Health
Supporting early intervention, prevention and age-appropriate mental health services.
- Policy Area 8
Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
Promoting prevention, evidence-based support and reduced stigma related to substance use.
- Policy Area 9
Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention
Supporting awareness, early identification, safe communication and appropriate pathways to help.
- Policy Area 10
Lived Experience and Social Participation
Ensuring that people with lived experience, families and caregivers meaningfully participate in policy, services and system improvement. This is the foundation of the ambassador network.
- Policy Area 11
Financing and Sustainability
Encouraging sustainable investment and responsible allocation of resources for mental health.
- Policy Area 12
Climate-Resilient Mental Health Systems and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Promoting preparedness and responsive mental health support in the context of climate-related events and emergencies.
Lived experience and social participation are relevant across all policy areas—not only Policy Area 10.
From Policy to Action
How Ambassadors Will Operationalise Policy Area 10
The programme translates Policy Area 10 into practical opportunities for participation, advocacy and community engagement. Through the ambassador network, people with lived experience, families, caregivers, young people and other stakeholders can help shape mental health services, strengthen accountability and inform policy implementation.
- 01
Strengthen Representation in Decision-Making
Connect people with lived experience, families and caregivers to consultations, advisory groups and relevant decision-making forums, helping ensure their perspectives inform mental health policies and programmes.
- 02
Support Lived-Experience and Family-Led Organisations
Build connections between lived-experience and family groups, civil society and institutions, supporting collective advocacy, visibility and meaningful participation.
- 03
Embed Lived Experience in Service Design
Contribute to consultations, focus groups and co-design activities that help make mental health services more accessible, responsive and person-centred.
- 04
Promote Rights-Based Mental Health Services
Raise awareness of dignity, inclusion and human rights in mental health care, and support appropriate rights-based assessment and improvement initiatives when trained and authorised to do so.
- 05
Strengthen Feedback and Grievance Pathways
Help communities understand available feedback and complaint channels, and share consent-based, collective concerns with relevant institutions to inform service improvement.
- 06
Support Peer-Support Pathways
Help identify opportunities for peer support and connect interested individuals with appropriate training, supervision and supported roles, recognising the value of lived experience.
- 07
Enable Youth and Community Participation
Create opportunities for young people and communities—including underrepresented groups—to contribute to mental health discussions, advisory activities and community-led initiatives.
- 08
Connect Community Feedback with Policy Implementation
Document community priorities and emerging concerns, and communicate them to relevant institutions to inform service quality improvement, research priorities and policy implementation.
Turning Participation into Change
Ambassadors will contribute through awareness activities, community engagement, consultations, partnerships and the sharing of community insights. GIHD will support coordination, capacity building and ethical engagement, helping connect these contributions with relevant stakeholders and implementation processes.
The programme complements—not replaces—formal government and institutional mechanisms. Statutory appointments, institutional reforms and the formal resolution of grievances remain the responsibility of the relevant authorities.
The Participation Journey
How the Programme Works
- 01
Connect
Bring together individuals and organisations from diverse backgrounds, communities and regions of Pakistan.
- 02
Equip
Provide orientation, learning resources and guidance on mental health advocacy, ethical engagement, safeguarding and responsible communication.
- 03
Engage
Support ambassadors in contributing to awareness activities, community initiatives, consultations, partnerships and relevant policy discussions.
- 04
Inform
Help channel community perspectives and emerging priorities to relevant institutions and stakeholders.
- 05
Learn
Document activities, reflect on lessons, gather feedback and strengthen the programme over time.
Participation opportunities will depend on ambassadors’ interests, availability, training and the needs of relevant initiatives.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Our Commitment to Meaningful Participation
The programme is built on the principle that participation must be safe, inclusive, respectful and meaningful.
We are committed to:
Dignity and respectTreating every participant as a valued contributor.
Voluntary participationEnsuring that involvement is based on informed choice.
Privacy and confidentialityProtecting personal information and respecting agreed boundaries.
Inclusion and accessibilityWorking to reduce barriers to participation across communities and backgrounds.
SafeguardingPromoting safe, appropriate engagement, especially for young people and other participants who may require additional protections.
Meaningful involvementSeeking contributions that can inform decisions and action rather than relying on symbolic representation.
Recognition and fair supportRecognising substantive advisory and co-design contributions and exploring appropriate support or compensation where applicable.
No one is required to disclose a diagnosis or share a personal story to participate. Ambassadors choose what they wish to contribute, and personal disclosure is never a measure of commitment or performance.
A Growing Network Across Pakistan
Explore the Ambassador Network
Mental health needs, experiences and resources vary across Pakistan. The ambassador network aims to connect people and organisations across provinces, territories and communities, helping ensure that a wider range of perspectives can contribute to mental health action.
- TerritoryGilgit-BaltistanNetwork forming
- ProvinceKhyber PakhtunkhwaNetwork forming
- TerritoryAzad Jammu & KashmirNetwork forming
- TerritoryIslamabad Capital TerritoryNetwork forming
- ProvincePunjabNetwork forming
- ProvinceBalochistanNetwork forming
- ProvinceSindhNetwork forming
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