Mental health is an integral yet often neglected area of an individual’s life. In Nepal, although there are more conversations about mental health, stigma and other challenges still exist. Most people do not seek help because of stigma, lack of knowledge, and access to basic mental health services. As the country develops, mental health care becomes more paramount in health policies.
Overview of Mental Health in Nepal
Various social and economic factors in Nepal are a major factor in how mental health is perceived. Social factors such as poverty, unemployment, and earthquake trauma in 2015 have raised the levels of various mental illnesses. Moreover, cases of substance use, domestic violence, and social isolation are widespread, affecting individuals’ mental health.
Young people are at risk now more than ever, with increased levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms and stress being reported. Urbanization, population growth, and modernization have introduced new challenges, especially in education, employment, and social status.
Effects of COVID-19 on the Psychological Aspects
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the impact of mental health problems in Nepal. The stress, anxiety and depression levels in the population have dramatically gone up because of the long term lockdowns, low earnings and anxiety of getting afflicted by the disease. TPO Nepal conducted a survey, during the pandemic, about the mental wellbeing of the population and noticed a great increase in problems related to mental health, especially in the youth, health professionals and in the people who lost employment and relatives due to the Coronavirus. In particular the feeling of emptiness was exacerbated by social distancing and the lack of answers to questions many people had during the onset of the pandemic.
Before COVID-19, mental health care systems were deficient, but after the pandemic, they became nearly impossible to access. Mental health information and care service systems including telemedicine and burnout management tools such as online counselling remained important for people’s well-being, although not everyone was able to use these tools, especially people living in rural communities. The pandemic highlighted Nepal’s inadequate mental health resources and how severe the gap could be in future disasters.
Mental Health Issues and Stigma in Nepal
Often, people with these problems don’t seek treatment because they fear judgment or discrimination. More often, people suffering from these problems don’t avail themselves of treatment because they fear being judged or discriminated. Most of these perceptions arise from an uninformed about mental illness suffering, which further isolates the community affected by the problem.
The culture in Nepal focuses on the society and the family which can pose some challenges when it comes to discussing issues of mental health. Many people are resistant to the idea of being labeled as “weak” or “less capable” than the rest of their family and tend to keep quiet about their problems.
Mental Health Services in Nepal: Current Assessment
Accessibility of Services
The aspect of mental health services in Nepal is extremely inadequate, particularly in terms of rural settings. The professional pool of mental health workers in the country is horrifyingly low. Estimates suggest that one psychiatrist exists for every five hundred thousand people, even less psychologists and counsellors. The few available services are almost centralized in the Kathmandu Valley, thus most of the population do not get specialized care.
The government of Nepal has aimed to incorporate mental health as a verticle in primary health care systems. This is however not the case, as these services are sometimes poorly funded and staffed. In many occasions, people are therefore compelled to use informal or traditional ways of self-medicating for psychiatric disorders.
Key Mental Health Institutions in Nepal
Irrespective of the above factors, many agencies have made strides in mental health in Nepal. Some notable institutions such as Patan Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Mental Hospital, Lagankhel offer mental health services. Furthermore, within Nepal, non-profit organizations such as TPO Nepal and Koshish Nepal are involved in activities to promote mental health and provide help.
Government Initiatives
The government of Nepal has started paying attention to mental health issues and incorporated them in health policies. National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan 2020-2025 Is Aimed At, Rectifying Deficiencies In The Mental Health Programming And Governance In The Country. There are plans in the future for those seeking safety net type programming for mental health illnesses. But the operationalization of this is raising more concerns owing to financial restriction and limited resources.
There is still a great lack of most basic mental health services with respect to basic primary health care, especially in rural regions. When preparing the health budget it should be more focused on mental health if the people are to benefit from the services.
Improving Mental Health in Nepal
Increasing Awareness
There is no denying that one of the solutions devised to handle mental health problems in Nepal is raising awareness. It Increases the number of individuals who appreciate the issues and thus improve their health. Schools, working places, and health institutions are very essential in spearheading mental illness awareness campaigns.
There are several social media campaigns held by the organizations where people are informed on various tips on what to do for self-care when they are isolated. These activities have provided a great platform for the mental illnesses awareness campaigns.
Improving Access To Mental Health Services
Such malady is significantly infrequent in Nepal, but the real problem is how to enhance the mental health results of the population by increasing services in this area in a country’s geography relief. Training more mental health professionals and incorporating mental health into physicians’ training can help resolve this problem. Strengthening social welfare approaches can also enable the provision of such services to the populace who reside outside towns.
Technology Impact
As smartphone use grows and internet access expands, technology can help offer mental health services in Nepal. Telemedicine and mental health apps can connect rural people with therapists or counselors, eliminating the need for travel to cities.
Many mental health providers have shifted to online platforms, offering therapy through video, chat, and mobile health apps. The use of online services will greatly benefit those who have been underserved in traditional mental health care.
Telemedicine and online therapy became the necessary modalities of healthcare for mental asylum care service during the COVID-19 period. Many different therapists also moved to internet-based sites, offering therapy on video, chat, or via mobile applications. The use of online services will prove advantageous for such patients who have been hidden away by conventional mental treatment.
Conclusion
The country also understands the importance of mental health care, but there’s a long way to go as a society and government. The spread of coronavirus disease made it more clear that it is necessary to strengthen the existing mental health system and to create more reliable resources. Overwhelming workload created a long queue for many services. Sociocultural factors are also important in improving mental health in Nepal, alongside creating more care opportunities and public awareness.
Despite reasonable progress, further action is still required towards establishing universal coverage for mental health services in the national context. With more focus and investment, future modelling of Nepal would be less challenging as the country would be able to effectively build a more inclusive and pyramid encouraging society.
