14/10/2026
🧠Every Voice Matters | COMSATS Abbottabad Hosts Mental Health Symposium 2026
Promoting mental well-being, breaking the silence around psychological challenges, and encouraging compassionate conversations, the COMSATS Mental Health Society, Department of Humanities, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Abbottabad Campus, organized the Mental Health Symposium 2026 to mark World Mental Health Day under the theme “Better Mental Health – Brighter Future,” with a special focus on “Lived Experiences: Real Voices, Real Change.”
Organized in collaboration with the District Youth Office Abbottabad, Sidra Foundation Pakistan, and the Commissioner’s Office, the symposium brought together 400+ participants, including university and college students, mental health professionals, and other distinguished guests, to highlight the importance of psychological well-being and create a supportive environment for open dialogue.
🎤 Distinguished Guests and Speakers
The event was graced by Prof. Dr. Zakir Hussain, Director, CUI Abbottabad Campus; Dr. Babar Khan Jadoon, Head of the Department of Humanities; Mr. Muhammad Hanif, Principal, Muslim School System; Dr. Adil Saeed Qureshi, Head of Department, APS; and Major Umer, CMH.
Prof. Dr. Aftab Alam Khan, Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, delivered the keynote address, while Ms. Rabia Tahir, Founder and Director of the Frontier Women Alliance for Inclusive Development, shared her insights as a guest speaker.
đź’¬ Expert Panel Highlights Workplace Mental Health
A major highlight was the panel discussion on “Lived Experiences at Work: Voices, Wellbeing & Workplace Health.” The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Farhana Kazmi, Chairperson, Department of Psychology, with Dr. Sehrish Khan, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities, serving as moderator.
The panel featured Zubia Gulfam, Clinical Psychologist at Hira Hospital and Founder & CEO of Me & Mind; Dr. Awais Khan, Psychiatrist and CEO of Waseela Rehab; Subeyal Wilson, Clinical Psychologist at CMH Abbottabad; Assad Shad, Clinical Psychologist and CEO of Aaghaz Psychological Services; and Hina Khan, Advocate specializing in child protection and harassment.
The discussion explored workplace stress, emotional exhaustion, work–life challenges, and psychological well-being, emphasizing the need for supportive workplaces where individuals can discuss their struggles without fear of judgment or professional consequences.
🎨 Students Lead the Way in Mental Health Awareness
The symposium featured awareness sessions, expert talks, interactive activities by BS Psychology students, and a poster-making competition. Students from COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, and various colleges of Abbottabad participated enthusiastically, contributing to meaningful discussions on emotional well-being and the importance of seeking professional support.
Speakers emphasized that mental health is as important as physical health. They encouraged participants to challenge social stigma, listen to others with empathy, and recognize that seeking psychological support is a sign of strength.
The symposium reinforced a powerful message: Every experience deserves to be heard, every voice matters, and compassionate understanding can bring meaningful change.
🤝 Leadership, Teamwork and Collaboration
The symposium was organized under the leadership of Dr. Sehrish Khan, Chief Organizer and In-charge of the COMSATS Mental Health Society, Department of Humanities, with the dedicated support of Mr. Abdul Majid Khalil, DOO Humanities, the Head of Department, Psychology students, and partner organizations.
Students played an active role in planning, coordination, stage management, media coverage, outreach, and logistics, demonstrating outstanding teamwork and commitment to promoting mental health awareness.
The organizing team extended its sincere gratitude to all distinguished guests, speakers, panelists, partner institutions, volunteers, participating students, and everyone whose contributions helped make the symposium a success.
