BRICS declares Bengaluru's NIMHANS global hub for mental health cooperation

A major decision on mental health was taken at the 18th BRICS Summit held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Under the New Delhi Declaration, adopted unanimously at the summit, member countries agreed to set up a "network of centres of excellence" and a special training centre to boost international cooperation on mental health.

The responsibility for managing and coordinating this global network has been given to Bengaluru's National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, known as NIMHANS, which has been made the network's main coordinating centre.

The declaration states that the new network will serve as a shared platform for BRICS member countries to address mental health challenges. Through this platform, member countries will be able to jointly conduct research on mental health, discuss new health policy and promote evidence-based mental health policies. This gives medical experts from India, Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa and other BRICS countries a strong platform to share their experience and best practices.

To ensure the international network functions properly, a special group of expert representatives from each BRICS member country will be formed. This group will lay out a framework for scientific and technical cooperation to durably and comprehensively integrate mental health into primary healthcare systems. Working on the principle of "balanced participation and shared responsibility," the group will also decide how to address the mental stress that follows global crises, natural disasters or pandemics.

The declaration pays particular attention to children, adolescents and economically and socially vulnerable groups struggling with mental illness, with special emphasis on giving them timely, accessible and continuous mental health support. All member countries have also fully backed the launch of the "BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles" and the "BRICS Roadmap for 2026-2029" to address new challenges arising from non-communicable diseases, or NCDs.

Given the importance of traditional and integrated medicine, or TCIM, alongside modern treatment, the summit also welcomed a proposal to set up an expert working group under the BRICS health track. This platform will coordinate research on medicinal plants and herbal products used in treating mental health and other conditions. The initiative, to be led by NIMHANS, is being seen as a significant example of India's growing global influence in the health sector.