KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 25
Youth Thinkers' Society in collaboration with UN Women has developed a podcast series titled 'Stress Counselling through Podcast in Response of COVID-19' in a bid to address the mental well-being of people, especially marginalised communities, women, excluded groups, and youths.
The end of 2019 witnessed a widespread pandemic that resulted in a worldwide lockdown and upended economic, social, and mental well-being of people.
Social distancing, self-isolation and lockdown curfews, among other measures, affected the overall mental, spiritual, physical, and social well-being of ordinary people.
The psychological impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown can pose a challenge for an indefinite period of time, thereby requiring the need for coping strategies, mental health interventions, and awareness using available resources, said a press released issued by YTS, an NGO.
Realising the need to address mental health issues, YTS initiated a nationwide survey, targeting Province 2 and Sudurpaschim Province, to gather insights on the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health among different socio-economic sectors and population demographics.
The podcast series comprising 20 episodes has been designed using information obtained from the survey.
'Stress Counselling through Podcast in Response of COVID-19' is also dedicated to normalise and destigmatise the conversation revolving around mental health and psychosocial well-being.
These episodic sessions are aired through online social networks and digital platforms such as Anchor FM, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, Sound cloud, Cast- Box, and social media pages of Youth Thinkers' Society and YTS Cares.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 26, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
