Pakistan launches global child mental health alliance with New York’s SNF center

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2026) Pakistan and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute (CMI) have agreed to pursue a formal institutional partnership aimed at strengthening child and adolescent mental health services, research, innovation and workforce development in Pakistan.

The understanding was reached during a high level meeting in New York on Thursday, where Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath led a Pakistani delegation to the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute.

The visit focused on exploring the Center’s globally recognised systems strengthening model could support Pakistan’s efforts to expand mental health services for children and adolescents through evidence based, scalable and locally led solutions.

The minister was accompanied by Dr Malik Muhammad Safi, Senior Advisor at the Health Planning, System Strengthening and Information Analysis Unit (HPSIU), and Dr Syed Usman Hamdani, Founding Director of the Global Institute of Human Development (GIHD), Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, and the inaugural SNF Global Center Research Fellow from Pakistan.

The Pakistani delegation was hosted by Child Mind Institute President and Medical Director Dr Harold Koplewicz, Senior Vice President for Global Programs Dr Giovanni Salum, Director of Global Fellowship Strategy Peter Raucci and members of the Center’s research and science teams. A strategic tele-discussion was also held with Dr Ayesha Mian of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP).

During the visit, the delegation received a detailed briefing on the SNF Global Center’s approach to advancing child and adolescent mental health through research, implementation science, digital innovation, youth engagement, workforce development and international partnerships.

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Discussions centred on adapting elements of the model to Pakistan’s emerging mental health agenda.

The two sides explored collaboration in areas including joint research, implementation partnerships, national mental health data systems, leadership development programmes and specialist training.

Pakistan also expressed interest in participating in the Center’s Global Landscape Mapping initiative and fellowship programmes designed to build future mental health leaders.

The Pakistani delegation highlighted ongoing efforts to develop a National Mental Health Policy, establish a National Hub of Excellence for Mental Health, integrate mental health services into schools and Primary healthcare systems, and expand digital mental health initiatives across the country.

Officials said both parties agreed to work towards a formal agreement that would translate the engagement into practical cooperation on policy development, capacity building, research, innovation and service delivery.

Dr Bharath thanked the Child Mind Institute and SNF Global Center leadership for hosting the delegation and underscored the importance of sustained international collaboration in addressing mental health challenges among children and adolescents.

The minister also invited representatives of the Child Mind Institute, the SNF Global Center, IACAPAP and other global partners to participate in World Mental Health Day 2026 events scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Oct 1-2, where Pakistan plans to launch key national mental health initiatives and expand international cooperation in the sector.