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HealthNet TPO concludes workshop on child and adolescent mental health in Afghanistan

Stakeholders discuss findings from the national CAMH service mapping and next steps for policy and system development.

Afghan adolescent talking at local event

HealthNet TPO, in collaboration with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health South Asia Network (CAMHSAN) and with the technical and financial support of UNICEF, successfully held the Dissemination Workshop on Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Service Mapping Findings in Afghanistan on Tuesday, 8 October 2025, at the Kabul Star Hotel.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), UN agencies (UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA), donor organisations, sectoral ministries, civil society, and academic institutions, as well as members of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Technical Working Group. National media outlets were also present, ensuring broad visibility of the initiative and its objectives.

The opening session featured remarks from the Deputy Minister of Public Health, UNICEF Deputy Country Representative Ms Andrea James Asefa, and Dr Manuel representing the World Health Organization (WHO). All speakers emphasised the urgent need to strengthen mental health services for children and adolescents in Afghanistan. They highlighted the importance of intersectoral collaboration, investment, and policy reform to address the growing mental health needs of the younger population.

Attendees at mental health workshop in Afghanistan

Participants at mental health workshop in Afghanistan

Following the opening session, Dr Murtaza Hofiani, HealthNet TPO’s Research Coordinator, presented the key findings of the CAMH service mapping report. His presentation provided an overview of the current situation, identifying gaps and opportunities within Afghanistan’s child and adolescent mental health system. The findings offer an evidence-based foundation for planning future interventions and informing policy decisions.

Participants were then divided into six thematic working groups to collaboratively develop a national roadmap and action plan across the following domains:

Policy and legislation
Financing
Services
Medication and other treatment modalities
Human resources
Data and information management

Each group discussed the existing challenges within their area and proposed key actions to address them. Their recommendations were later presented in plenary sessions.

These collective inputs will contribute to the development of a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening child and adolescent mental health systems in Afghanistan.

The workshop also included online participation from several international partners and the Country Director of HealthNet TPO Afghanistan, Dr. Muhammad Naseem Naeem, who reaffirmed the organisation’s long-standing commitment to advancing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services across Afghanistan. He underscored HealthNet TPO’s continued focus on integrating mental health into the primary healthcare system and supporting the development of sustainable national frameworks.

In his closing remarks, Dr Zalmai Shinwari, MHPSS Coordinator at HealthNet TPO, expressed appreciation to all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions. He reiterated HealthNet TPO’s firm commitment to supporting national efforts aimed at improving the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents, stressing that collective action and strong partnerships are essential to building a resilient and inclusive mental health system in Afghanistan.

The workshop concluded with consensus among stakeholders on the need for sustained collaboration, policy development, and investment in human resources to ensure accessible, quality, and equitable mental health care for every child and adolescent in Afghanistan.

HealthNet TPO concludes workshop on child and adolescent mental health in Afghanistan

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