KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 10
The National Human Rights Commission has called for accessible treatment and the launch of awareness programs about mental health.
It has urged the government and relevant sectors to ensure that mentally ill individuals lead lives of dignity.
In a statement issued by the Commission's spokesperson, Dr. Tikaram Pokharel, on the occasion of the 31st World Mental Health Day, the Commission highlighted the concerning state of mental health in the country and the insufficient efforts to address it.
The statement noted, "It appears that the government has not allocated an adequate budget or established a mechanism for mental health. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, there are 144 psychiatrists and three child psychiatrists. There is a shortage of other human resources such as psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and social workers for providing psychosocial assistance."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15 percent of the world's population suffers from mental illness. WHO data indicates that four out of five mental patients come from low and middle-income backgrounds.
In Nepal, due to a lack of awareness about mental health, the Commission observed that mental patients are often treated with indifference, including neglect and confinement. The World Mental Health Day-2023 was observed worldwide, including in Nepal, under the theme 'Mental health is a universal human right.'
