28-29 April | Kathmandu, Bagmati Province – The Family Welfare Division, under the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), and WHO Country Office for Nepal, convened the inaugural consultative workshop to integrate mental health into maternal health services. 46 representatives from the MoHP, Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Mental Hospital, Provincial Health Directorate, public health experts, professional associations, civil society partners and related service providers assessed existing support systems and resources; identified key priorities, including building a consensus on timing and tools for screening during pregnancy and postpartum period; and shared best practices to draft a framework for the integration. The integration is also recommended by the WHO guidelines on maternal and newborn care and early childhood development to respond to perinatal mental health disorders and their impact on mothers, infants and families. WHO will continue to support the finalization of the framework, alongside advocacy efforts and capacity-building programs to initiate maternal-mental health services.