Kathmandu, October 14

The number of mental health patients in the Valley has been on the rise, owing partly to the devastating earthquakes of last year and rising awareness among Kathmandu denizens on the need to seek medical help for mental illnesses.

Mental health activist Jagannath Lamichhane said, “Mental illness is no different from physical illness. Issues of mental health can appear again and again in an individual’s lifetime.”

Across the globe, one in four people suffer from mental illness on an average, according to Lamichhane. “In many cases in Nepal, symptoms of mental illness manifest from as early as 18 years of age. However, incidents of mental illness are more frequent in older populations.”

People with a family history of mental illness are prone to mental illnesses. Stress factors such as financial burden, failure in academics and debts can cause mental illnesses.

In addition, intake of drugs during pregnancy and trauma during delivery can also cause mental illness. “Post-quake, the number of mental health patients has increased rapidly,” Lamichhane said.

There are more than 30 hospitals and private clinics in the country that provide treatment for mental illness, but many people are embarrassed to seek treatment.