Kathmandu: A Mental Health Awareness Campaign will be kicking off Wednesday as an initiative of the government. The campaign will run for three months, thus lasting until March 14. This was shared at a press meet organized by the National Health Education, Information, and Communications Centre here on Tuesday.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Centre’s director, Dr. Radhika Thapaliya, mentioned that the campaign aims to raise awareness about mental health. People from all walks of life are experiencing increased stress, and the campaign is expected to address this issue to some extent. The theme of the campaign is: “Let’s hold open discussions on mental health; let’s benefit from the campaign.”
Senior Public Health Administrator at the Ministry, Upendra Dhungana, stated that the campaign aims to promote awareness by recognizing mental health as an integral part of overall health. Psychiatrist Dr. Kedar Marhatta from the World Health Organization echoed the need for open discussions about mental health. He indicated that one in ten people in Nepal experience mental health issues, making it a public health challenge.
According to Nepal Police data, 7,055 people committed suicide due to mental health issues in the fiscal year 2081/82 (2024-25).