Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Public Health, is set to host the Sixth Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, which will take place in Doha on September 30 and October 1, 2025, under the theme “Transforming Mental Health through Investment, Innovation and Digital Solutions ”.
The summit will witness broad participation from health ministers, experts, and specialists worldwide, alongside international organisations concerned with mental health.
The ministerial summit will feature a rich programme of sessions and events, including two panel discussions, six workshops and several accompanying activities. During these events, officials, policymakers, and specialists will discuss pressing mental health issues and formulate strategies to address them globally. The summit will host a total of 64 local and international speakers.
The summit addresses mental health as an integral part of public health, social justice, and human rights, in line with the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on mental health and human rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Dr Saleh Ali Al Marri, Chair of the Organising Committee for the Sixth Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, emphasised the vital importance of the summit in advancing mental health at the global level, particularly by focusing on investment, innovation, and digital solutions. Dr Al Marri added: “The Sixth Ministerial Summit builds upon the achievements of previous summits and features a comprehensive agenda and global partnerships to ensure the challenges facing mental health worldwide are addressed. It draws from outstanding experiences to ensure that all people, everywhere without exception, have easy access to effective and sustainable mental health services.”
Qatar’s hosting of the summit also supports national efforts to implement the State’s Third National Development Strategy and to strengthen public health.
Dévora Kestel, Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the World Health Organisation, stated: “WHO greatly looks forward to the Sixth Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit being hosted this year by the Government of Qatar, and to joining the conversation on a range of critical topics for mental health, including service delivery innovation, digitisation, telehealth, and web-based technologies. In a rapidly evolving world, it is vital to learn about and practice new approaches and ways of working that can better meet the needs of those we serve.”
Sarah Kline, Chief Executive of United for Global Mental Health, highlighted that the summit’s timing—coming just days after the UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health—makes it an exceptional opportunity to confirm the practical steps nations will take to improve mental health for all. Ms Kline added: “As Secretariat of the Global Mental Health Action Network, we are pleased to be working closely with so many stakeholders in preparing conversations on tackling stigma, reducing suicide rates, addressing the needs of young people, and strengthening mental health organisations to deliver services and support.”
The summit seeks to facilitate the exchange of best practices and success stories across regions and contexts, and to discuss actionable strategies to improve the implementation of community-based mental health models, particularly through digital solutions. The event will also develop a global resolution on mental health and promote investment in mental health research and innovation.
The Sixth Ministerial Summit aims to build upon the achievements of previous summits held in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and Buenos Aires. Past summits have consistently called for integrating mental health into public policy and highlighted the global commitment to mental health. This aligns with other global initiatives, including the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the High-Level Commission on Non-communicable Diseases, and the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030. Qatar’s summit hosting affirms its steadfast commitment to promoting mental health as a core component of sustainable human development and to leveraging innovation and modern technologies to ensure mental health services are accessible to all.
