Doha, 20 Sept 2025

The Ministry of Public Health will host the Sixth Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in Doha on September 30 and October 1, 2025. The event will convene under the theme “Transforming Mental Health through Investment, Innovation and Digital Solutions.”

The summit is anticipated to draw extensive participation from health ministers, specialists, and experts from across the globe, alongside representatives from leading international mental health organizations. The official program is structured to foster robust dialogue through two panel discussions, six workshops, and a series of accompanying events. These sessions will provide a platform for 64 local and international speakers, including policymakers and officials, to deliberate on urgent mental health challenges and formulate strategic responses.

A foundational principle of the summit is the recognition of mental health as an integral component of public health, social justice, and human rights, aligning with frameworks established by the United Nations.

Dr. Salih Ali Al Marri, Chair of the Summit’s Organizing Committee, underscored the event’s critical role in advancing the global mental health agenda. He stated that the summit will build upon the legacy of its predecessors by leveraging a comprehensive agenda and global partnerships. The objective is to address worldwide challenges by drawing on proven experiences to ensure all people have unhindered access to effective and sustainable mental health services. Qatar’s hosting duties further align with its national efforts to implement its Third National Development Strategy.

The international community has expressed strong support for the event. Dévora Kestel, Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the World Health Organization, confirmed the WHO’s anticipation for the summit, noting the vital importance of exploring innovations in service delivery, digitization, and telehealth to better meet global needs.

Sarah Kline, Chief Executive of United for Global Mental Health, highlighted the strategic timing of the summit, which follows closely after a related UN High-Level Meeting. This proximity, she noted, creates an exceptional opportunity for nations to commit to concrete, actionable steps for improving mental health. Her organization, serving as Secretariat of the Global Mental Health Action Network, looks forward to facilitating critical conversations on stigma reduction, suicide prevention, youth needs, and strengthening service delivery organizations.

A key expected outcome of the summit is the facilitation of cross-regional knowledge exchange on best practices and the development of actionable strategies to enhance community-based mental health models, particularly through digital solutions. The event also aims to produce a global resolution on mental health and to galvanize increased investment in mental health research and innovation.

This sixth iteration seeks to build upon the accomplishments of the previous summits held in major cities worldwide, which have consistently advocated for the integration of mental health into all aspects of public policy. The hosting of this summit in Doha affirms Qatar’s steadfast commitment to positioning mental health as a cornerstone of sustainable human development and to harnessing innovation and technology to make mental healthcare universally accessible.