Raising Our Voices for Mental Health at the multi-stakeholder hearing ahead of the UN HLM on NCDs and Mental Health - Mariyam’s spotlight.
As the world prepares for the 2025 United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs and mental health, members of the Global Mental Health Action Network are stepping up to ensure mental health is treated as a core pillar of global health and development.
Next week in New York, a powerful and diverse group of GMHAN advocates—including youth leaders, community health workers, researchers, and policymakers—are taking part in the multi-stakeholder hearing to call for urgent action and meaningful change. We are honoured to introduce these inspiring changemakers and the vital work they lead.
Mariyam Sibghatullah - Consultant Advocacy & Research Taskeen Health Initiative
What I Do & Why It Matters
As a global mental health researcher and advocate, I focus on strengthening mental health systems through policy development, implementation research, and advocacy. My work includes researching and developing process indicators to monitor mental health policy implementation in resource-constrained settings. With Taskeen Health Initiative, I have contributed to health systems strengthening and advocacy initiatives in Pakistan, helping shape the national mental health policy and promoting person-centered care.
Hoped-For Actions From the Hearing
I hope this meeting secures concrete commitments to integrate mental health into national health agendas, with a particular focus on monitoring and accountability frameworks that use robust, context-specific indicators. Additionally, I want to see commitments to increase investment in community-based services, and intersectoral action that addresses social and commercial determinants of mental health.
Why prioritising mental health at the 2025 UN HLM is essential:
Prioritising mental health at the UN High-Level Meeting would signal a global shift towards recognizing mental health as crucial and fundamental to overall well-being, and to achieving the sustainable development goals. For my community, this would mean greater accountability from decision-makers, more resources towards deinstitutionalized care and stronger commitment towards addressing mental health needs across all levels of society.
