The MENA Health Policy Forum (MENA HPF) is pleased to announce that it has joined the Global Mental Health Action Network (GMHAN) and will be participating in the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH).
Joining the GMHAN and participating in ATACH mark an important step in MENA HPF’s efforts to strengthen regional and global collaboration on emerging health priorities and contribute to evidence-informed policy dialogue across the Middle East and North Africa.
Joining the Global Mental Health Action Network (GMHAN)
The Global Mental Health Action Network is the world’s leading network for global mental health advocacy — a community of advocates making change happen, with more than 10,000 members from 170 countries representing 6,000+ organisations.
GMHAN hosts the Regional Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, established by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMRO). The Coalition brings together civil society organisations, experts, advocates, and people with lived experience to advance mental health and substance use prevention across the region.
Launched in 2025, the Coalition currently includes more than 60 organisations and over 120 experts working across advocacy, capacity building, service delivery, policy development, mental health promotion, and substance use prevention.
The Coalition’s 2026 workplan focuses on seven priority thematic areas that address key regional and global challenges:
• Stigma and discrimination
• Universal health coverage and integration of mental health into primary healthcare
• Sustainable financing for mental health services
• Child and youth mental health
• Environment and mental health
• Substance use prevention and access to care
• Mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies
Through its membership, MENA HPF will engage with regional and international partners to contribute to knowledge exchange, policy discussions, advocacy efforts, and collaborative initiatives that support stronger mental health systems and improved wellbeing across the region.
Participating in the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH)
MENA HPF will also be participating in the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), a WHO-hosted global platform that supports coordinated action on climate change and health.
ATACH brings together governments, health institutions, professional associations, and partner organisations working to build climate-resilient health systems and strengthen the health sector’s response to climate-related risks.
Through its participation in ATACH, MENA HPF will contribute to global discussions and collaborative efforts focused on promoting resilient health systems, advancing climate-health policies, and strengthening the role of health stakeholders in addressing the health impacts of climate change.
Strengthening Regional and Global Engagement
Both engagements align closely with MENA HPF’s mission to promote evidence-informed policymaking, foster multi-stakeholder dialogue, and support collaborative solutions to complex health challenges.
By participating in these regional and global platforms, MENA HPF looks forward to contributing its expertise, engaging with diverse partners, and helping advance collective action on mental health, substance use prevention, climate resilience, and health systems strengthening across the MENA region.
