Chhahari Nepal for Mental Health which was first initiated in 2003, but formally launched only in 2009, is dedicated towards a just and equitable society where the mental health needs and well being of all women, men and children are addressed. Chhahari Nepal for Mental Health is dedicated to the vision of a just and equitable society, where the mental health needs and the well-being of all women, men and children are addressed properly. Promote a socio-medical model for the management and treatment of mental illness,emphasising holistic care.
3. Advocate and co-ordinate with other institutions to develop more responsive systems to address the diverse mental health needs and the rights of people.
4. Enhance public awareness and understanding of people's mental health needs.
5. Establish Chhahari Nepal for Mental Health as a responsive and learning organisation. Building on evidence from our experiences and based on the availability of funds, we aim to gradually expand to others areas within the Valley, and outside our current periphery of Patan, Lalitpur. Our longer term goal is to work countrywide. ACHIEVEMENTS To-Date:
Chhahari Nepal was initiated in 2003 as an informal group. It started functioning as a project under St. Xavier’s Social Service Centre in 2005 and collaborating with the Social Work Department at St. Xavier’s College. In 2006, we established the NGO with funding support from churches in Scotland. Building on this support, Chhahari Nepal has become a reputed part of the mental health network in Nepal. Chhahari undertakes a range of activities that have contributed to the knowledge base and collaboration amongst organisations working for mental health in Nepal. These include:
• Rapid assessment study in 2004 of mentally distressed homeless people in the Kathmandu Valley.
• Referral study in 2005 on institutions working to support mentally ill people.
• Establishment of a working relationship with the Patan Mental Health Hospital, including initiating carer support meetings.
• Co-ordination of and participation in meetings with other local NGOS, Governmntt of Nepal, and International Agencies
• Advocacy on mental health issues in the media
• In 2010, promotion of dance therapy for positive mental health.
• Celebration of World Mental Health Day, with street dramas, rallies and performance to promote mental health awareness
• Influencing the Government of Nepal to include mental health in their policies.
• Supporting the emerging mental health users’ voice.
• Initiation and implementation of action research in the form of the street project in 2011, linking mentally distressed people to appropriate services. This project is still ongoing and is growing, so that the evidence from experiences and observations on the street will inform advocacy on gaps in services and legal provisions. The Need:
Mental illness impacts, not only the individual concerned, but also the family and even the whole community, because of the emotional stress of dealing with it and the associated stigma. Mental illness has long been ignored in Nepal, with little recognition of the causes and issues, and more specifically the needs of those who are mentally ill. The reasons for this are complex and varied, ranging from cultural beliefs and spiritual causes, to the stigma associated with having a family member with mental illness. There is very limited legal provision for people suffering from mental illness in Nepal, and no laws to protect their rights. The laws that do exist are open to interpretation, often to the detriment of the mentally disabled. Globally, mental illness accounts for 12.3% of the total burden of disease. Detailed figures for Nepal are not available, but if they are, then they are likely to be of a comparable level to the global figures, or maybe even greater. In recent years, efforts have need made. However, most organisations work in isolation with little contact or cross referral. In particular there has been no focus on the homeless mentally ill, the most neglected, excluded and hard to reach group. Chhahari Nepal is determined to bridge this gap by working to address the needs of these severely disadvantaged people. THE CHALLENGE
For Chhahari Nepal, the immediate challenge is to raise sufficient funds to cover programme and organisational costs. Reaching our target group requires time, patience and resources. We also need funding that is sufficiently flexible to enable us to respond quickly to diverse and unexpected needs. Our Members have worked to raise funds locally, through participating in the Kathmandu Marathon (since 2009) and other activities. FUND RAISING
To date, our programme has received much of its funding from individuals and organisations from Nepal, the Netherlands, Germany, England and Scotland. We welcome financial support from any other individual or organisations who would like to support our work.
