Mental health needs and resources in Nepal

ABSTRACT

The present study advances scholarship on mental health needs and resources in Nepal by presenting the results of a qualitative research study conducted among mental health professionals in Kathmandu, Nepal. Questions centered on professionals’ perceptions of Nepal’s main mental health care needs, the greatest challenges faced by respondents in their work and the resources they most desire to address national mental health needs. Findings highlight the need for decreased social stigma and increased public awareness of mental health issues and treatment. Professional challenges include social stigma, lack of societal awareness regarding mental health issues and treatment and lack of professional support, with improved professional training (including increased knowledge and resources related to mental health care) expressed as one of the main desired resources. The implications of these results are discussed, along with study limitations and suggestions for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Nepal
• helping professionals
• stigma
• mental health needs
• professional challenges

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Sarah E. Hall is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at Wheaton College (IL).

Dr Terri S. Watson is the Associate Dean and an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at Wheaton College (IL).

Mandy L. Kellums, MA, is the Student Support Coordinator for the Human Needs and Global Resources program at Wheaton College (IL) and a Doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Regent University.

Joseph Kimmel is a Doctoral candidate in the Committee on the Study of Religion at Harvard University.

ORCID

Sarah E. Hall http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6492-7169

Terri S. Watson http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6782-9292

Mandy L. Kellums http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2357-0957

Joseph Kimmel http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2687-7180