BRICS Nations Unite to Address Mental Health Stigma at TAS Conference

BRICS Collaboration for Mental Health

The 11th Together Against Stigma (TAS) conference has convened in New Delhi, organized by the George Institute for Global Health in association with the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS Delhi and UNICEF. The event seeks to foster collaboration among BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—to effectively tackle mental health stigma and improve mental healthcare accessibility for children, adolescents, and young adults.

Concluding on November 13, 2026, the conference gathers representatives from India, Brazil, South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia. Participants have underscored the need for youth engagement, community mental health strategies, school-based interventions, and evidence-backed policy developments as crucial areas of focus.

Empowering Youth and Community Initiatives

One of the dominant themes of the conference is the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.” Experts emphasize that young individuals and those with lived experiences should play significant roles in shaping mental health policies and combating discrimination associated with mental health issues.

Schools are identified as vital environments for early detection and intervention regarding mental health issues. A notable case is Brazil’s successful initiative to train teachers in recognizing signs of psychological distress and connecting students to public mental health services.

Dr. Y. C. Janardhan Reddy, Director of NIMHANS, also shared insights about the National Digital Academy, which is instrumental in developing India's mental healthcare workforce. With 38 accredited courses and 72 programs, the academy has successfully trained around 50,000 professionals throughout the country.

Local Solutions for Global Challenges

During the conference, data from the ARTEMIS study (Adolescents’ Resilience and Treatment needs for Mental Health in Indian Slums) and the SATHI study focused on tribal communities were presented. Both studies illustrate the effectiveness of localized anti-stigma campaigns in enhancing perceptions of individuals with mental health challenges.

Moreover, these initiatives have proven to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents. Y. K. Sandhya, Programme Lead for Mental Health at the George Institute, noted the significant positive outcomes related to these tailored campaigns.

The conference established the BRICS Training Hub Network and the Network of Centres of Excellence as platforms to share research, knowledge, and effective mental health interventions. This collaboration marks a milestone, as this is the first TAS conference to be hosted in a country from the Global South.

With a strong commitment from BRICS nations, the endeavor to combat mental health stigma and improve access to care continues to gain momentum, ensuring a healthier future for the younger generations.