Neglected Mental Health
The Kathmandu Post
16 July 2008
Neglected Mental Health
In reference to the report on “Mental health neglected in Nepal” (14 July), I have a very painful experience as a voluntary working in mental healthcare sector. I came to terms with the realities during my voluntary involvement in a mental health program called “Chhahari Nepal” where availability of program funds became an extremely frustrating factor in spite of its tremendous effort of convincing national and international funding agencies for the implementation of its mental health program.
None of the funding agencies were found interested in addressing this acute problem that has affected more than 20 percent of the population. The number of mentally distressed people affected by the ten long years of socio-political conflict and sever poverty has alarmingly increased in the streets of Kathmandu and other major cities. Due to lack of proper policy in the government’s health sector, they have been deprived of rights of receiving proper treatments. The only Mental Hospital of the country situated in Lalitpur district severely lack proper infrastructures. None of the funding agencies involved in health development program have shown their readiness to be involved in the mental health program.
If the government continues to neglect this burning issue, the number of mentally distressed people will continue to rise resulting in highly vulnerable and marginalized communities that could severely affect the socio- economic condition of the country.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
None of the funding agencies were found interested in addressing this acute problem that has affected more than 20 percent of the population. The number of mentally distressed people affected by the ten long years of socio-political conflict and sever poverty has alarmingly increased in the streets of Kathmandu and other major cities. Due to lack of proper policy in the government’s health sector, they have been deprived of rights of receiving proper treatments. The only Mental Hospital of the country situated in Lalitpur district severely lack proper infrastructures. None of the funding agencies involved in health development program have shown their readiness to be involved in the mental health program.
If the government continues to neglect this burning issue, the number of mentally distressed people will continue to rise resulting in highly vulnerable and marginalized communities that could severely affect the socio- economic condition of the country.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
