Provision of mental health and psychosocial support services at the community level in Nepal: Insights from a midterm evaluation

Himal  Gaire; Ganesh  Bhandari; Mamta  Verma; Sabanam  Karki; Laxman  Nath; Anat  Chaudhary; Sumita  Malla; Ram Lal  Shrestha

doi:10.59400/apr3068

Provision of mental health and psychosocial support services at the community level in Nepal: Insights from a midterm evaluation

Himal Gaire Centre for Mental Health and Counselling Nepal (CMC-Nepal), Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Ganesh Bhandari Health office, Bhimdatta 10400, Nepal
Mamta Verma Master’s Program in Global Health and Health Security, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Sabanam Karki Health office, Birgunj 44300, Nepal
Laxman Nath Centre for Mental Health and Counselling Nepal (CMC-Nepal), Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Anat Chaudhary Centre for Mental Health and Counselling Nepal (CMC-Nepal), Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Sumita Malla Centre for Mental Health and Counselling Nepal (CMC-Nepal), Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Ram Lal Shrestha Centre for Mental Health and Counselling Nepal (CMC-Nepal), Kathmandu 44600, Nepal

Article ID: 3068

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/apr3068

Keywords: mental health; psychosocial support; migrant workers; foreign employment; Nepal

Abstract

Background: Foreign employment is a key livelihood strategy in Nepal, contributing to economic stability through remittances. However, it also imposes social costs, affecting the mental health and psychosocial well-being of migrant workers and their families. This study evaluates a mental health and psychosocial support project, assessing its progress and impact on interventions aimed at improving overall well-being. Methods: A midterm evaluation was conducted using a cross-sectional study design with a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative survey included 91 participants, utilizing validated tools such as the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), Life Satisfaction Tool, and Happiness Tool. Additionally, 13 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 26 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) explored community perspectives on mental health and psychosocial issues. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 for quantitative findings and thematic analysis for qualitative insights. Ethical approval was obtained from the Nepal Health Research Council (Ref. No: 660), and written informed consent was secured from all participants. Results: The evaluation demonstrated a positive impact on mental well-being, with anxiety decreasing from 37.25% at baseline to 20.95% at midterm and depression declining from 26.2% to 13.2%. Happiness and life satisfaction levels improved, and mental health services expanded from 4 to 19 health facilities. Challenges remain, including stigma, resource constraints, and policy implementation delays. Conclusion: While the project has significantly improved mental health outcomes, addressing systemic barriers is essential for sustaining progress. Strengthening policies and increasing resources can enhance long-term mental health support for migrant workers and vulnerable populations.

Published

2025-06-27

How to Cite

Gaire, H., Bhandari, G., Verma, M., Karki, S., Nath, L., Chaudhary, A., Malla, S., & Shrestha, R. L. (2025). Provision of mental health and psychosocial support services at the community level in Nepal: Insights from a midterm evaluation. Applied Psychology Research, 4(1), 3068. https://doi.org/10.59400/apr3068

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Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025)

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Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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