Global Institute of Human Development (GIHD), Faculty of Health Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination held a National Consultation Meeting to develop actionable roadmap for the implementation of the WHO-UNICEF “Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT)” toolkit in Pakistan.
Why It Matters
With one of the largest adolescent mental health is a priority health issue for Pakistan, particularly among underserved school-aged youth. The WHO UNICEF HAT toolkit is a structured, evidence-based program aimed at enhancing psychological resilience and life skills among adolescents.
- Chaired by: Prof. Dr. Mohammad Amir (Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, STMU)
- Dr. Humaira Irshad (Health Officer, UNICEF) underscored the public health urgency of adolescent mental well-being, framing it as a generational imperative.
📊 The session was moderated by Dr. Usman Hamdani, Founding Director of GIHD, who highlighted the rigorous scientific process followed by the GIHD-STMU Team for the translation, cultural adaptation, implementation and evaluation of Helping Adolescent Thrive (HAT) Toolkit:
Key components of the adapted intervention include the following intervention strategies for adolescents:
- Emotional regulation and awareness
- Problem-solving and stress management
- Effective communication skills
- Substance use prevention
- Development of prosocial behaviors and peer relationships
Stakeholder Engagement
The event was attended by participants from the provincial health education department, academia, policy and development sectors from Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balouchistan, Azad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan. Discussions emphasized that while various initiatives exist, they remain fragmented highlighting the need for a multi-sectoral coordination framework such as HAT to scale-up child and adolescent mental health interventions and ensure policy alignment.