Archive · 9 Jan 2026
ISMHAA Summit Calls for Mental Health Reform
The International Mental Health Policy Summit, organized by ISMHAA, took place in New Delhi on January 9.
The event brought together mental health professionals and experts to discuss the importance of collective responsibility, cultural rootedness, and systemic reform in mental health.
Key speakers included Dr. Mahendra Kabra, Dr. Arthur C. Evans, and Dr. Chinu Agrawal, who emphasized the need for holistic, preventive, and community-integrated systems of care.
The summit also highlighted the role of social-emotional learning, prevention, and ethical practice in mental health.
A White Paper was presented to be submitted to the Government of India, reinforcing the summit's commitment to translating dialogue into policy action.
The event concluded with a call for sustained action and collaboration in India's mental health journey.
The International Mental Health Policy Summit, organized by ISMHAA, commenced in New Delhi on January 9, focusing on collective responsibility and systemic reform in mental health.
Dr. Mahendra Kabra emphasized the need for shared societal responsibility and sustained collaboration between policy, practice, and community.
Dr. Arthur C. Evans called for a shift from reactive, illness-centric models to holistic, preventive, and community-integrated systems of care.
Dr. Ann Vernon advocated for the integration of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) as a core, preventive curriculum from early schooling through adolescence.
The summit concluded with the presentation of a White Paper to be submitted to the Government of India, reinforcing the commitment to translating dialogue into policy action.
- Who
- International Society for Mental Health Advocacy and Action (ISMHAA) and various mental health professionals and experts
- What
- International Mental Health Policy Summit
- When
- January 9
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- To advocate for collective responsibility, cultural rootedness, and systemic reform in mental health
- Event
- International Mental Health Policy Summit
- Organizer
- International Society for Mental Health Advocacy and Action (ISMHAA)
- Location
- New Delhi, India
- Date
- January 9
- Key Speakers
- Dr. Mahendra Kabra, Dr. Arthur C. Evans, Dr. Ann Vernon, Dr. Rainer Kurz, Dr. Amool Ranjan Singh, Dr. Jamuna Rajeswaran, Dr. Chinu Agrawal, Shri Manoj Joshi
- Key Themes
- Collective responsibility, cultural rootedness, systemic reform, social-emotional learning, prevention, ethical practice, accountability
- Outcome
- White Paper to be submitted to the Government of India