KATHMANDU, Feb 8: An adolescent mental health unit has been established for the first time in Nepal. The unit for adolescent psychiatry and mental health treatment has been set up in the only state-owned mental hospital.
Established with the aim of providing separate mental health services for adolescents, the unit boasts 12 beds. It has been established through collaboration between the mental hospital and the child rights-oriented organization CWIN Nepal. Among the 12 beds, there are six general beds and six semi-general beds. The unit will be staffed by 30 employees, including psychiatrists, nurses, special teachers, and social workers. It is expected to provide psychosocial support, creating a supportive network that promotes mental health by involving families, caregivers, and the community.
Mental Health and Human Rights
In the program, the Director of the mental hospital, Dr. Ananta Adhikari, stated that with the operation of the adolescent mental health unit, the hospital's services will not only expand but also facilitate proper counseling and treatment for at-risk groups.
The head of the unit, Dr. Arun Raj Kuwar, Shushila Dangol (Head of Nurse Administration of the Mental Hospital), Sumnima Tuladhar of CWIN, and others expressed their belief that the unit, tailored for teenagers, will provide services according to the needs of teenagers. The country's only government-run mental hospital has been providing services for the past 40 years.
