Aga Khan University Calls for Urgent Mental Health Reforms for Migrant Workers and Youth

The Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) hosted a media roundtable spotlighting a growing mental health crisis among Pakistani migrant workers and youth, urging policymakers to integrate mental health care into national and migration frameworks. “Migrant workers face extreme heat, long working hours, and crowded living conditions,” noted Falak Madhani, Implementation Scientist at BMI. “They carry the weight of their families’ expectations but lack access to mental health screening before, during, or after employment.” “Improving youth mental health requires collective responsibility,” emphasised Dr Fauziah Rabbani, Implementation Scientist at BMI. “We must strengthen community systems, address gender-based violence, and promote supportive parenting to build resilience.