When we set out to deliver the PM+ training at SKBZ/CMH Muzaffarabad, our goal was straightforward: equip mental health professionals with evidence-based counselling skills. What we did not anticipate was that one of the most meaningful outcomes would have little to do with the training curriculum itself.
For many participants, this was the first opportunity to meet fellow mental health professionals from across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
As introductions turned into conversations, a common realization emerged: we are not working alone.
Opportunities for specialized mental health training have historically been limited in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Here, the PM+ programme has become more than a professional development workshop. It marks the beginning of a growing network of practitioners united by a shared commitment to improving mental health care in their communities.
Why This Training Mattered
Organizing the first PM+ training in Muzaffarabad required careful coordination and strong partnerships.
Delivering this specialized mental health programme in a geographically remote region involved extensive planning, local collaboration, and close engagement with multiple stakeholders.
But behind every logistical challenge was a shared belief that professionals in Azad Jammu and Kashmir deserve equitable access to high-quality capacity-building opportunities.
One of the team’s proudest achievements was successfully delivering the entire four-day training with just two lead trainers: Rabeya and Maham. Together, they managed every aspect of the programme, from facilitating interactive learning sessions and conducting competency assessments to overseeing on-site coordination and logistics for all 21 participants. Balancing these responsibilities was demanding, yet it demonstrated the team’s dedication and adaptability.
The programme also highlighted the remarkable contribution of the team’s newest members: Asma and Hassan. While participating in the training themselves as future Master Trainers, they simultaneously supported the logistical management of the event. Their ability to balance learning with operational responsibilities reflected both their commitment and professionalism.
A Shared Vision for Mental Health
The opening session reinforced that this initiative represented something much larger than a single training programme.
Senior clinicians and institutional leaders described the training as an investment in the future of mental health services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The programme itself was made possible through the dedication of Dr Anum (Consultant Psychiatrist, SKBZ/CMH Muzaffarabad), whose leadership was instrumental in bringing the initiative to the region. She coordinated with key stakeholders across institutions, fostered the collaborations necessary to organize the training, and reached out to mental health professionals from diverse organizations to ensure broad representation. Her efforts laid the foundation for a truly collaborative learning experience.
Dr Khawaja Hamid Rasheed acknowledged the considerable effort required to bring the programme to the region and appreciated the commitment of the Institute of Psychiatry team in ensuring that local professionals could benefit from this opportunity.
Discussions throughout the programme also focused on a broader vision for mental health care in Pakistan. Participants emphasized the importance of extending evidence-based training to underserved regions and building strong regional mental health teams capable of sustaining future initiatives locally. Rather than depending solely on centralized training programmes, stakeholders envisioned a system where professionals have equal opportunities to develop their skills, regardless of geographical location.
A Powerful Trifecta: Training, Mentorship, and Networking
For many participants, this vision resonated deeply. Working in a region with a limited mental health workforce often means fewer opportunities for advanced training, mentorship, and professional networking. The Centre for IMPACT PM+ strand addresses all three by providing practical clinical skills while creating valuable professional connections that many participants have never experienced before.
The urgency of strengthening the local workforce was further highlighted by Prof. Brigadier Shakir Sharif, who spoke about the growing burden of mental health challenges in the region, including increasing suicide rates. He emphasized that:
investing in local capacity is no longer optional it is essential.
He also expressed hope that the knowledge gained through this programme would extend beyond the participants themselves, creating a multiplier effect as they go on to train others and expand access to quality psychological care across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Looking Ahead
Participants will remember the first PM+ training in Muzaffarabad for more than the counselling skills it introduced.
It brought together professionals who had never before shared the same learning space. It revealed a community of mental health practitioners who, despite working toward the same goals, had rarely had the opportunity to connect. Most importantly, it demonstrated the impact that can be achieved when institutions collaborate to strengthen local capacity.
Throughout the four days, one message remained consistent: this should not be a one-time initiative.
Participants, institutional leaders, and partners shared a common aspiration to build a sustainable culture of mental health capacity-building across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
By equipping local professionals with evidence-based psychological interventions while fostering a supportive professional network, the programme has laid an important foundation for a stronger, more connected, and more accessible mental health system in the region.
Sometimes, the most lasting outcome of a training is not only the knowledge participants gain, but the community they build together, which is what we are aiming to achieve through PM+ in the future.
Written by Rabeya Tariq, Research Assistant (IoP) PM+ Pakistan.
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