Mental health policy in the offing: Minister Thapa

KATHMANDU:  Minister for Health Gagan Kumar Thapa on Saturday has said that the mental health policy was going to be formulated soon.

Laying the foundation stone for the Child Mental Health Centre's building in the premises of Kanti Children's Hospital in Kathmandu today, Minister Thapa expressed his confidence that the policy will provide guidelines for the treatment of the mentally-ill.

Urging parents to be timely aware of the mental health issues in children, Thapa said that the government had started providing mental health services for children in the Kanti Hospital.

Chief Specialist doctor at the Ministry of Health,  Kiran Regmi, spoke of the need for the parents to seek medical assistance for any mental complications in the children as he argued that the children's health is very sensitive one.

Similarly, Kanti Children Hospital Director Ajit Rayamajhi shared that a new plan has been forwarded by the Hospital to ensure treatment for the children.

The building, estimated to cost Rs 30 million, will be constructed within two years.

A study conducted by the Hospital showed that of the children brought to the Hospital for medical intervention; around 10-15 per cent children were found to have mental complications.