We originally aimed to work in Nepal for 5 years from 2014 and then review our progress. Having developed some understanding of mental health services in Nepal and having formed some key partnerships, we undertook a review of our work in Nepal in 2018. On the feedback we received, we decided to continue our small amount of supportive work for another five years.
We work throughout the year to organize our annual visits. A small team of clinicians from our Australia visits Nepal each year for 2 weeks in Autumn. If you are visiting Nepal at other times in the year, under the auspices of the Network and RAWCS, we can link you in to local services to help their work to improve the lives of people with a mental illness.
While we have learnt from and worked with a range of services over the last few years we are now working mainly with these organisations:
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Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital ('TUTH'), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Institute of Medicine
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The Department of Child Psychiatry Services, Kanti Children's Hospital
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Chhahari Nepal for Mental Health Street-front Services
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KOSHISH National Mental Health Self-Help Organisation
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Alzheimers and Related Diseases Society, Nepal ('ARDS Nepal')
In addition, we work in Dhading District, a province northwest of Kathmandu. With guidance from several international NGOs, we work with the managers and staff of the Primary Health Centres in Maidi and Dhola villages, along with the senior teachers and other community leaders.
Activities we participate in include:
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Teaching and skills development in contemporary mental health assessment and management, including Mental Health First Aid
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Complex trauma counseling skills development
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Regional and remote training and education for primary health workers and health volunteer workers
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Raising awareness and addressing stigma, including development of Mental Health Literacy programs
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Facilitation of inter-agency forums and conferences
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Sponsorship of targeted specialist training for key clinicians