NIMHANS Bengaluru to serve as BRICS mental health training hub

Source: Navabharat | Original Published At: 2026-09-13 04:43:15 UTC

Key Points

• The 18th BRICS Summit accepted the New Delhi Declaration, which includes cooperation on a mental health training hub and a network of Centers of Excellence.
• NIMHANS in Bengaluru will be designated as the coordinating centre for the BRICS mental health network.
• The network will support joint research, policy dialogue, exchange of best practices, and evidence-based mental health promotion among BRICS countries.
• Representatives from each BRICS member state will manage the network, focusing on sustainable integration of mental health into primary healthcare.
• The declaration emphasizes timely psychosocial support for vulnerable groups, including children and adolescents, and mental health impacts of crises.
• It supports the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle and the BRICS Roadmap 2026-29 for promoting healthy lifestyles.
• The declaration welcomes a proposal to create a BRICS expert working group on traditional and integrative medicine under the BRICS Health Track.