India Mental Health Alliance Calls for Community Wisdom in Care Policies

India Mental Health Alliance gathered experts, activists and service users in Delhi this week to stress the importance of lived experience and community‑based wisdom in mental‑health care practice and policy. The meeting aligned with the World Health Organization’s 2026 World Mental Health theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”. Participants argued that personal narratives and local knowledge can fill gaps left by clinical guidelines. The alliance urged policymakers to embed these perspectives into national programmes and training curricula. Organisers said the approach could improve accessibility and cultural relevance of services across the country. The convening was reported on Sep 16, 2026.