A total of 42 percent of people living in Karnali Province are found to be suffering from anxiety and 23 percent from depression. Similarly, 11.7 percent of people here are suffering from some kind of mental health ailments.

This fact was shared at the Mid-term Review and Interaction on Mental Health and Psychosocial Strategy and Action Plan 2079-2087 organized by the Karnali Province Ministry of Social Development with the financial and technical support of the Swiss Government and the Center for Mental Health and Counseling (CMC Nepal) in Surkhet Birendranagar on Wednesday.

The data from the National Health Research Council says that 42 percent of people in Karnali suffer from anxiety and 23 percent from depression, CMC Nepal Director Dr Pashupati Mahat said while giving his presentation on mental health, national policy and strategy. Stating that 11.7 percent of people are reported to be suffering from some kind of mental health issues, he stressed that governments at all levels should invest in its prevention.

At the program, Minister for Social Development Ghanashyam Bhandari said that a joint effort is needed to solve mental health problems. Karnali Province has developed and implemented a mental health and psychosocial strategy and action plan. This is the first of its kind among the seven provinces of the country, he added.

Psychiatrist Dr Sushil Samdarshi presented the future direction of the Karnali Provincial Government's Mental Health and Psychosocial Strategy and Action Plan, the policies adopted and the progress made so far, and Public Health Officer Kiran Kumar Sharma gave a presentation on the mental health of Karnali and the activities and activities being undertaken by the provincial government for its improvement.

Himal Gaire, Head of Policy, Strategy and Good Governance at CMC Nepal, said that the program aims to cover the issues left out by conducting a 'Mid-Term Review of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Strategy and Action Plan 2079-2087' and to include the problems of Upper Karnali in particular in the strategy and action plan.

According to him, the mental health condition of citizens of districts like Rukum Paschim who migrate for foreign employment and return home has become even more alarming.