Drawing on 15 years of experience in psychiatry, Dr Kanchan Dahal passionately poses the question, “What’s a better way to live than by helping people live a life full of health and well-being?”
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Dahal, currently works at the Central Jail Hospital, concentrating on the mental health of prisoners. His focus extends to studying and treating their mental illnesses while actively engaging in forensic psychiatry. Notably, he played a role in Nepal’s first-ever criminal case involving brain mapping. His primary expertise lies in cutting-edge therapies, particularly modern psychoanalysis and the recently introduced Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (RTMI), aimed at addressing severe psychiatric problems.
Before starting his job at the Central Jail Hospital, he worked at the mental health department of Bhaktapur Hospital and even had a stint on Guraidhoo Island in the Maldives. The foray into the mental health sector began during his MBBS days when he got curious about the healthcare system. Instead of just idling away time during vacations, he used to travel to rural areas and there he witnessed lots of people dealing with mental health problems because of social and economic issues. That’s what convinced him to jump into psychiatry, even when there wasn’t much scope for it back then.
In 2006, as a recent graduate of the MBBS program, Dr Dahal joined the psychiatry team at B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Science in Dharan in Eastern Nepal for three years. He was a trainee but he had discovered his passion. He then joined the Mental Hospital at Lagankhel as a medical officer. His reach extended beyond the walls of the hospital as he voluntarily signed up for many mental health workshops, programs, and camps in various parts of rural Nepal.
While working in the Maldives, Dr Dahal was excited to learn about modern psychoanalysis and even underwent training for it. “Theory and experience in the field naturally distinguish themselves when it comes to treatment. While treatment protocols may be similar everywhere, the approach to it is what truly shapes the outcome,” he says.
His time in various health facilities and diverse experiences have ingrained in him the importance of a patient-centered approach. He’s more concerned about the social factors affecting mental health and prioritizing patient care with new practices and technology than anything else. Currently, he says he is trying to align new treatments and practices in Nepal with ongoing global advancements. He says the training he received in China gave him a deep understanding of psychiatry.
The stigma surrounding mental health made seeking help for issues difficult in Nepal. There was a time when he didn’t have many patients and there weren’t many forms of treatment either. But now, he claims people are more aware of mental health issues, and seeking help isn’t frowned upon as it once was. He also says science and research are improving psychiatry, especially with treatments like Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation becoming easier to access.
Dr Dahal was inspired by Hyman Spotnitz, a famous psychiatrist known for psychoanalysis. “Learning behavioral studies through modern psychoanalysis has been my guide,” he says. He says he is deeply troubled by how global economic strains, workplace stress, and societal prejudices are affecting people’s minds. So, he strives to give his patients a sense of validation and peaceful living. Even when addressing criminal cases, he tries to break down guilt as he feels acknowledging their emotions is vital for their mental well-being.
“There is still a lot of stigma associated with mental health and in many places, it’s difficult to break,” says Dr Dahal. He laments that he hasn’t been engaged in as many community programs due to his responsibilities at the hospital. “Most of my time goes to clinical and hospital-based care and I want to change that,” he says, adding he is still trying to travel as much as he can to study behavioral patterns in rural areas. He wants to help by recommending feasible solutions in government projects regarding mental health.
Dr Dahal is on a fascinating mission of not just improving mental well-being but also offering personalized vocational training. Currently, he’s exploring creative solutions for the challenges faced by those with mental health issues unable to find tailored care.
He’s also pretty good at juggling his to-do list without letting it interfere with his work. He’s got a smart approach of keeping his personal life and job separate to keep stress at bay. And when he’s off the clock, he’s all about quality time with family and friends to give his mind a much-needed rest.
“Taking care of our mental well-being is as crucial as looking after our physical health,” he says. Emphasizing the impact of a troubled mind on our lifestyles, he urges everyone to recognize stress, acknowledge it, and find creative ways to tackle it. “Our main focus in life should be our mental health because everything else pretty much depends on it,” he says.
