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DHA Campus, IslamabadMandra Campus, Rawalpindi
GIHD × Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University
A fully paid, professionally structured internship for young people passionate about youth mental health — hands-on research, one-to-one mentorship, career counselling, transport and accommodation.
Practical commitments and support
| Commitment & Policy | |
|---|---|
| Location | In-person at GIHD / Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University campus, Islamabad |
| Duration | 3 to 6 months structured placement (full-time, Monday–Friday) |
| Expected hours | Approximately 35–40 hours per week (standard research operating hours) |
| Stipend | Fully paid monthly stipend provided to all selected interns |
| Mentorship | Assigned 1-on-1 faculty mentor and bi-weekly supervision |
| Daily transport | Pick-and-drop service on designated Islamabad/Rawalpindi routes |
| On-campus housing | Hostel accommodation for interns relocating from other cities (subject to availability) |
| Alternative format | Free 1-month online option available via the Virtual Training Programme |
Admissions timeline
Submit the online application form with your resume and a short statement of interest in youth mental health research.
Shortlisted candidates are invited for a structured 30-minute interview with faculty to assess motivation, research potential, and alignment.
Successful applicants receive formal appointment letters detailing stipend and campus logistics, followed by comprehensive orientation.
About the internship programme
The internship programme offered by the Global Institute of Human Development (GIHD), in partnership with Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (STMU), is a fully paid, professionally structured opportunity designed for young individuals who are passionate about youth mental health. This is not a passive, certificate-only programme — it is a hands-on, mentor-guided career launch into one of the most critical and growing fields in Pakistan's healthcare landscape.
Pakistan is at a turning point in its approach to mental health. Awareness is rising, demand for trained professionals is growing, and yet structured pathways into this field remain rare — especially for young people who are still building their credentials. This internship programme was created precisely to fill that gap, offering ambitious individuals a meaningful, supervised, and professionally rewarding first step into youth mental health research and practice.
Whether you are a student in your final year, a recent graduate, or someone exploring a career shift, this programme provides the environment, the mentorship, and the real-world experience that accelerates professional growth in ways that classroom learning alone cannot achieve.
What this internship offers
Every participant receives a comprehensive support package — removing the financial, logistical, and professional barriers that so often prevent talented individuals from accessing high-quality learning opportunities.
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Every intern receives one-on-one career counselling sessions with experienced professionals who understand the mental health sector in Pakistan and beyond. These sessions are tailored to each individual's academic background, personal goals, and career aspirations — helping participants build a realistic and confident roadmap for their future.
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Interns are matched with senior researchers, clinicians, and programme leads at GIHD and STMU. This mentorship is an ongoing, meaningful relationship — not a formality. Mentors actively guide interns through challenges, help them develop independent professional judgment, and connect them with networks that extend well beyond the internship period.
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Participants are embedded in live research projects focused on youth mental health. This includes contributing to literature reviews, supporting data collection, assisting with community engagement activities, preparing reports, and helping shape programme evaluations. Interns leave with a real, verifiable portfolio of research work — not just a participation certificate.
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GIHD recognises that daily commuting is one of the most significant and overlooked barriers for students and early-career professionals across Pakistan. To ensure that geography and transport costs are never a reason to miss out, the programme provides a daily pick and drop facility for all selected interns — making regular attendance reliable, safe, and stress-free.
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For interns relocating from other cities, or those who need housing support during the programme, GIHD provides access to on-campus accommodation at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University. This removes one of the most significant financial and logistical burdens that typically prevent talented individuals from committing fully to structured internship opportunities away from home.
Why youth mental health in Pakistan?
Youth mental health is one of the most critically underfunded areas in Pakistan's healthcare system. Research consistently shows that most mental health conditions first emerge before the age of 25 — yet the vast majority of young people in Pakistan have no access to early identification, professional support, or community-based mental health services.
GIHD's work is grounded in research, community engagement, and long-term policy advocacy. By joining this internship programme, you are not simply gaining work experience — you are actively contributing to a larger movement that is working to transform mental health outcomes for an entire generation of young Pakistanis.
The collaboration between GIHD and Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University brings together institutional credibility, clinical expertise, and a deep commitment to capacity building. Interns gain access to a professional network and a learning environment that very few programmes in Pakistan can offer.
Eligibility
This opportunity is suitable for motivated individuals who meet one or more of the following.
Common questions
Yes. Selected interns receive a fully paid monthly stipend, with pick-and-drop on designated Islamabad/Rawalpindi routes. Hostel at STMU is available for interns relocating from other cities, subject to availability. GIHD does not publish the stipend amount on this page; ask when you apply if you need a figure in writing.
It is in-person at GIHD / Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University in Islamabad, full-time Monday to Friday, about 35–40 hours a week, for three to six months. There is no remote version of this placement. If in-person seats are not running, GIHD invites applicants to the free one-month Virtual Training Programme instead.
Students or recent graduates in psychology, public health, medicine, social sciences or related fields, and people exploring a career shift into youth mental health research. You need a CV and a short statement of interest. Shortlisted candidates have a 30-minute faculty interview. Seats are limited.
Use the application form on this page. Selected candidates are contacted after review. For questions, call or WhatsApp +92 333 0590373 or email [email protected] during Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. This is not the same form as Youth Voices roles or the free EASE virtual month.
No. This internship is a paid, in-person research placement. The Virtual Training Programme is a free one-month online EASE course. Youth Voices roles are paid-honorarium peer research and advisory work at a few hours a month. Use the matching page so you are not applying for the wrong thing.
Ready to apply?
Selected candidates will be contacted directly following a review of their applications. We encourage interested individuals to apply as early as possible.
When in-person internships are not running, applicants are invited to join the GIHD Virtual Training Programme instead — a free, one-month virtual programme built around EASE, with a certificate on completion.
Also for you
A one-month virtual programme built around Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE), the WHO–UNICEF endorsed psychosocial intervention for adolescent mental health in Pakistan.
Young people at GIHD are co-creators, leaders and changemakers — peer researchers, youth advisors, campaigners, storytellers and programme co-designers, with fair compensation and real decision-making power.
Get involved
A fully paid, professionally structured internship for young people passionate about youth mental health — hands-on research, one-to-one mentorship, career counselling, transport and accommodation.
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm