NHRC demands accessible treatment of mental issue

The National Human Rights Commission has demanded accessible treatment and the launch of awareness programmes about mental health. It has drawn the attention of the government and concerned sectors to ensure mentally ill people live a respected life.

In a statement issued by the Commission spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel on the occasion of the 31st World Mental Health Day, it has pointed out worrisome situation of mental health of the country and a lack of enough work for addressing it.

“It seems the government has not allocated enough budget and created a mechanism for mental health. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, there are 144 psychiatrists and three child psychiatrists. There is not the management of other human resources (psychiatric nurses, psychologists and social workers) for psychosocial help”, reads the statement.

According to the World Health Organisation, around 15 percent of the world’s total population is suffering from mental illness. Of the five mental patients, four are found to be from low and middle income people, said data with the WHO.

In Nepal, in lack of awareness about mental health, it has been found that mental patients are treated indifferently like tidying them up and confining them, said the Commission. The World Mental Health Day-2023 has been observed across the globe including in Nepal today. The theme for the Day is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.