Mental health is a cornerstone human wellbeing, yet it remains profoundly vulnerable to the societal forces that shape our contemporary world. As we witness political polarization, economic inequality, and global uncertainty rise, we are simultaneously observing rising rates of psychiatric disorders and distress important population subgroups. Conflicts, forced migration, and climate-related disasters continue to test the resilience of communities worldwide. Never has our work been more vital, nor has the need for evidence-based public health approaches been more urgent. This meeting theme recognizes that mental health cannot be understood in isolation from the social, political, and economic contexts in which people live. The symposia we have assembled reflect this comprehensive approach, from examining how political violence and polarization contribute to psychiatric distress, to exploring trauma and forced migration’s psychological toll, to advancing methodological innovations that will shape the future of our field. Congress will delve into critical human rights perspectives on mental healthcare quality, harness the potential of artificial intelligence and social media for surveillance and intervention, and trace mental health trajectories across the entire lifecourse from adolescence to older age.