Community Mental Health Initiatives of HFN Background: Almost one quarter of the Nepalese people suffer from some form of mental illnesses. Nepal has only one psychiatric hospital and the number of currently working psychiatrist is less than 60 in Nepal. About 4 in 5 people with serious mental illness do not receive any mental health care in low and middle income countries including Nepal. There are only 1.5 psychiatric beds per 100,000 population (only 112 psychiatric beds in government hospitals and 327 such beds are in private hospitals in Nepal), and the concept of psychiatric rehabilitation is still foreign in Nepal. HFN has been running different health projects in Dang district of Nepal. The district with more than half million population does not have even a psychiatrist neither has any specific mental health services. Witnessing the dire need of mental health services in Dang, HFN has incorporated community mental health services in our existing projects. HFN provided psychosocial counseling training to the community health workers in our project sites. Psychosocial counselor Ms Bhumika GM and Yashoda Oli have been providing individual and group counseling services at the HFN clinic and communities. We have been providing mental health awareness programs in local schools and communities in regular services.
MGH global OB - GYN June Newsletter |
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Maternal Mental Health project: Smile Mothers
HFN has been implementing maternal mental health project since January 2019.
As of October 2019, total 88 pregnant women and 366 post-partum mothers were screened for depression and anxiety by HFN team. Out of 88 pregnant mothers 28 had anxiety and 16 had depression. Out of 366 post-partum mothers, 51 had anxiety and 19 had depression. HFN psychosocial counselors have been providing individual counseling to all the mothers with anxiety or depression in the communities. HFN has been providing free health services to all the mothers because of the ongoing support from HFN supporters and members.
HFN has been implementing maternal mental health project since January 2019.
As of October 2019, total 88 pregnant women and 366 post-partum mothers were screened for depression and anxiety by HFN team. Out of 88 pregnant mothers 28 had anxiety and 16 had depression. Out of 366 post-partum mothers, 51 had anxiety and 19 had depression. HFN psychosocial counselors have been providing individual counseling to all the mothers with anxiety or depression in the communities. HFN has been providing free health services to all the mothers because of the ongoing support from HFN supporters and members.