On Friday 21 August 2026, eMHIC Executive Director Anil Thapliyal joined more than 100 clinicians and consumers at the third New Zealand Clinical Senate event, “Acting Early, Changing Lives: Improving the Life Trajectories of Children in Aotearoa.”

The event brought together senior health professionals and clinicians from across Aotearoa New Zealand to develop practical, whole-of-system recommendations for the Health New Zealand Board, focused on improving health outcomes and life trajectories for children and young people.

Anil presented “Policy and Strategy Overview of Digital Mental Health Support Approaches for Children and Young People from Around the World,” sharing international best practice and perspectives from digital mental health initiatives across the globe.

As a multidisciplinary advisory body within New Zealand’s health system, the Clinical Senate provides strategic advice on complex, system-wide and cross-disciplinary issues. The event provided an important opportunity to bring global digital mental health perspectives into the discussion and explore how technology-enabled approaches can support earlier, more effective care for children and young people.