The New Delhi Declaration adopted during the ongoing 18th BRICS Summit supports the establishment of a network of training hubs and centres of excellence (CoEs) for mental health, with the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) serving as the coordinating centre.

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"The Network of CoEs could also serve as a platform to facilitate collaborative research, policy dialogue, exchange of best practices, and the co-development of evidence-based mental health promotion strategies across BRICS countries," the declaration states.

Governance and Accountability

According to the declaration, a designated group of representatives from each BRICS member state will jointly govern the network. This governance structure aims to ensure balanced decision-making and shared accountability towards achieving scientific and technical cooperation for the sustainable and scalable integration of mental well-being into primary healthcare.

Commitment to Mental Health

The declaration emphasizes the importance of addressing the mental health consequences of crises. It commits to providing timely, accessible, and sustained mental health and psycho-social (MHPSS) interventions to affected populations, particularly those in vulnerable situations, including children and adolescents.