It is encouraging and interesting to see that many NGOs are gradually coming up to serve the mentally ill people.

However, it seems that the government has not made its much needed effort on this health issue. It has not yet set aside a separate table in its Ministry of Health and Population to deal with mental health issues.

There is one single mental hospital which is overburdened with patients and lacks adequate and appropriate medical facilities. Some of the private hospitals are found providing mental health services with qualified and trained psychiatrists.

Mental health is a concept that refers to a human individual’s emotional and psychological well-being.

It is a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no single “official” definition of mental health. One way to think about mental health is by looking at how effectively and successfully a person functions.

Feeling capable and competent, being able to handle normal levels of stress, maintain satisfying relationships, leading an independent life, and being able to “bounce back,” or recover from difficult situations, are all signs of mental health.

It is estimated that about 20 to 25 % of the Nepal’s total population of 26.65 million people are affected with some kind of mental illness. There could be many causes.

Among them are acute poverty, multiple dysfunctions of body, heredity, heavy mental distress, major accidents and drug addiction. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania, psychotic disorder and substance misuse are the major mental health problems.

Unless the social stigma, which is deeply rooted in our culture, is minimized or completely rooted out, the mentally ill will continue to get isolated from the family and community.

Massive awareness campaign is needed, especially at the rural areas, to make people aware of this illness.

The government should start monitoring the functions of NGOs involved in mental health programmes to ensure that they are properly providing their services.

It is mandatory for all the organizations involved in mental health programmes to provide proper treatment and rehabilitate mental patients in their family and communities.