6th Ministerial Summit: Empowering Communities, Strengthening Coalitions, and Tackling Stigma
In September 2025, years of advocacy to get mental health at the top of the political agenda came to fruition. UN Member States made unprecedented commitments to support mental health for all. While there is much to celebrate, as a community, we know we must now prioritise turning commitments into concrete strategies to drive sustainable change. The 6th Global Mental Health Ministerial Summit, in Doha, Qatar - the first in the Region - served as a vital forum for these discussions.
Over two days, ministers, advocates and people with lived experience from all parts of the world shared the stage. During a series of interactive sessions and plenary discussions, we explored opportunities to improve mental health care through investment, innovation and digital solutions. The delegation from the Global Mental Health Action Network (GMHAN) and United for Global Mental Health emphasised the need for deinstitutionalising mental health care, integrating stigma-reduction initiatives in national mental health programmes, and championing youth mental health.
Empowering Communities and Developing Effective National Mental Health Stigma Reduction Campaigns: Since 2020, the summits have underscored the global commitment to addressing stigma, a significant barrier to accessing mental health care and achieving societal wellbeing. In a workshop led by GMHAN, our Stigma and Discrimination Working Group and our close partners, we discussed the practical lessons learned from decades of campaign experience. Dr Myriam Zarzour from Embrace Lebanon explained how online campaign impressions translated into action in Lebanon and shared key takeaways that contributed to impactful stigma-reduction initiatives.
Dr Myriam Zarzour presenting stigma reduction campaigns in Lebanon
Dr Susan Clelland from the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar shared how they have developed national campaigns that utilise culturally appropriate, evidence-based strategies to influence public attitudes, awareness, and increase public engagement.
Embrace Lebanon’s 6 Rules
Pair campaigns with real services (Lifeline/clinics) from day one
Co-create with lived experiences; help people; protect them
Keep language bilingual & stigma-safe; avoid sensationalism
Contact-based storytelling beats abstract facts
Build a partner/advocate mesh (media, schools, municipalities, sports, influencers)
Measure behaviour, not just clicks (calls to the Lifeline, bookings at the EMHC, referrals)
GMHAN’s Stigma and Discrimination Working Group Co-Chairs covered measurement and evaluation tools to examine behaviour change and the impact of stigma reduction campaigns on structural, public and self-stigma, and discrimination. Together, they emphasised the need to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination through a whole-system intersectional approach.
Access free measurement and evaluation tools at www.indigo-group.org.
Spotlighting the WHO EMRO Regional Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention: With Dalia Elasi from WHO EMRO, we shone a spotlight on the recently launched Regional Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention. The Coalition is a response to, and product of, the critical need to address stigma in the Eastern Mediterranean region by actively engaging people with lived experience and their organisations.
Through the Coalition and its online portal hosted on GMHAN Circle, Coalition members can:
Live workshop poll capturing attendee & member priorities in stakeholder engagement
Connect with advocates and field experts in real-time and map stakeholders working locally, nationally and regionally
Share their work and organisational priorities for better alignment within the sector
Participate in events and webinars taking place in the Region for broader collaboration
Engage in real-time learning by accessing feedback, reflections and sharing expertise
This facilitation helps eliminate duplication, ensure collaboration opportunities aren’t missed, and strengthen stakeholder engagement. By breaking down siloes, we can produce effective, efficient and economical solutions to reduce stigma and promote implementation.
Takeaways: Now, more than ever, we recognise the importance of increased coordination and open channels for knowledge exchange to ensure mental health remains a priority. There is an abundance of expertise and experience to learn from, and proven strategies for lasting change.
It’s clear: we must continue to collaborate across sectors, meaningfully engage people with lived experience, champion grassroots voices, and prioritise action!
Join our community to support this mission! If you’re based in the Eastern Mediterranean, you’ll have the option to become a member of the Coalition when you complete the GMHAN registration form.
