KARACHI: The Khudi Wellness Carnival 2026, a two-day initiative commemorating World Mental Health Day, concluded at Greenwich University Campus, Karachi, bringing together mental health professionals, academics, healthcare practitioners, social organisations, wellness advocates, students and community members under the theme “Better Minds, Brighter Futures.”
Organised by Khudi Wellness in collaboration with Thrive School of Psychology, Greenwich University, the Carnival aimed to promote preventive mental health, emotional wellbeing, inclusion and community engagement through meaningful conversations, interactive activities and opportunities to connect with organisations working across the wellness sector.
The initiative was founded on a central message: mental health awareness must extend beyond crisis intervention and become an integral part of everyday life, families, educational institutions, workplaces and communities.
A key highlight was the panel discussion, “Parenting: Understanding Youth Issues — Bridging the Generation Gap,” moderated by Sarwat N. Shah, Founder of Khudi Wellness and author of Smart Parents Handbook. The discussion brought together Professor Shaista Effendi, Dr Minhaj Qidwai, Mufti Abu Talha and DG Honnak Baloch to examine the challenges facing young people and the importance of communication, emotional safety, early intervention and collaborative support for families.
The panel addressed the need to understand young people beyond their behaviour, recognise emerging emotional and psychological concerns, and encourage parents and institutions to respond with greater awareness, empathy and responsibility. The speakers also highlighted the importance of prevention, mental health policy, disability inclusion and holistic approaches to wellbeing.
In keeping with the World Mental Health Day theme of amplifying voices, a special session on Resilience and Determination featured Ahmer Iqbal, an acid-attack survivor, and Mr Marjan Mashaddi, a burn survivor. Their participation brought attention to the experiences of survivors, the importance of dignity and social acceptance, and the need to create spaces where lived experiences can be heard with respect and compassion.
The programme also featured a fireside chat on “Holistic Development: The Spiritual Dimension of Growth,” hosted by researcher and writer Mr Hamza, with Dr Irfan Qamruddin, author of Unblinded. The conversation explored the role of spirituality, values and purpose in personal development and overall wellbeing.
The Carnival further included sessions on employee wellbeing, breast cancer awareness and the mental health of patients and caregivers, environmental wellness, tree plantation, and a complimentary Wellness Showcase featuring professionals and initiatives working in areas such as mental health and artificial intelligence, smile therapy, inclusive care, youth wellness, healthy ageing, and digital therapy. A community Drum Circle with Mohsin Kazi provided an opportunity for shared participation and connection.
The outdoor Wellness Carnival brought together organisations, social initiatives, student projects, wellness providers and food vendors, creating an accessible community space for awareness, engagement and collaboration.
Speaking about the vision behind the initiative, Sarwat N. Shah, Founder of Khudi Wellness, emphasised the importance of making mental health support preventive, practical and inclusive.
“Our vision is to move mental health from the margins into everyday life—from stigma to understanding, from reactive treatment to prevention, and from individual struggle to collective responsibility. We want to build a culture where emotional wellbeing is valued, seeking help…
