Reimagining Global Mental Health: No Voice Left Behind
The 4th Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum has now ended.
For those registered, the content is available on demand.
In February 2026, more than 300 mental health advocates from over 70 countries gathered at the 4th Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum in the Philippines to share experiences and forge new partnerships to address mental health issues worldwide. A further 1,500 mental health activists joined the discussions online from all over the world, and live translations were provided in over 100 languages, true to the theme of the event to “leave no one behind”.
The event was organised by the Global Mental Health Action Network, with local partnership from #MentalHealthPH and core support from United for Global Mental Health. In workshops and plenary sessions, the participants explored issues including how to make mental health advocacy effective for driving policy change, reimagining global mental health funding mechanisms, driving lived experience and youth leadership, and how to reform mental health services to be more responsive to people’s needs.
The Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum 2026 was the fourth global event organised by the Global Mental Health Action Network. It is the largest convening of civil society stakeholders working on mental health advocacy, and unites experts and advocates from 170+ countries dedicated to improving mental health for all.
Watch our highlights video
More than 2,200 GMHAN members from 130+ countries registered to participate in this special event, with 300+ advocates, leaders and changemakers joining us in-person in Iloilo City from over 70 countries!
Dowload the Forum’s Impact Report!
❈ Participants in the Philippines were hosted at the Iloilo City Convention Center, while our virtual attendees joined through a virtual lobby designed to create an engaging online experience.
❈ Online participants enjoyed full access to all Working Group sessions on Day 1 and Day 2, interactive speed networking rooms, a comprehensive digital library featuring exclusive resources and research.
❈ Whether you joined us in Iloilo City or connected virtually from anywhere in the world, we look forward to learning, collaborating, and inspiring change together!
The Forum was generously made possible through the support of our donors.
Major Contributors
We are also grateful to generous core funding support from:
We are thankful for additional support from organisations and individuals whose contributions helped enable participation and provided resources for sessions and materials, including:
Why the Philippines and Iloilo City?
We were highly driven by members recommending Asia as the region for our next Forum. The criteria for choosing the Philippines included: quality of local partners relationships; well connected international airport; currency that does not make it too expensive for travellers from LMICs; ease of visa process; LGBT+ friendly local legal framework; suicide not criminalised in the country; and friendly weather. In addition, there is a lot going for the Philippines: The WHO Special Initiative; a progressive Mental Health Law; a number of highly engaged GMHAN members; the next international financing dialogue in 2026. We also saw it as an opportunity to foster greater representation in our membership from East Asia and the Pacific that were underrepresented at our previous in-person event in Cape Town.
Iloilo City was a disruptive choice, known within the region for its progressive approach to climate and conservation, championing mental health in school curricula, incredibly preserved heritage sites, and an unforgettable food scene. The city’s "Ginhawa 2.0" initiative aims to foster mental health resilience through a strong support network. Each year, the city hosts seven festivals celebrating beauty, grace and abundance, heritage, culture, and faith.
