We aim to provide a weekly drop in center for 20-30 mentally ill clients, their carers & family members by offering activities that allow expression, engagement & build self esteem through counseling sessions, creative therapy classes like art, music, yoga & field visits along with vocational classes. Also, to include family members & carers in our work plan to raise awareness in the community and to be a support system via interaction programs and home visits involving young volunteers.
A meager 0.14% is spent by the Nepalese Government on mental health which is allocated for hospital services only. Conventional treatments neglect cultural, linguistic, spiritual & economic values disregarding the important role of families. Lack of awareness among the youth preserves traditional beliefs of mental illness in society. Families are torn apart by the long struggle for recovery & economic as well as social pressure. Monthly household incomes average $50 while treatment costs $20.
By providing a day care center which will include free counseling sessions & creative therapy classes that engage clients, their carers & family members & build their self esteem to sustain & integrate back into society. By giving family members space to express their anxieties and discuss solutions for the problems faced. By negotiating affordable treatment with existing government & private treatment facilities with attention on young people to prevent acute conditions becoming chronic.
Provision of treatment along with family support to 10 clients from 5 communities yearly, gradually expanding outside of Kathmandu valley. Teaching them income generating skills through our day care center which will benefit the clients, their family and the Nepalese economy. Establishing a basket fund to compliment family resources for treatment. Engaging the community, especially the youth in raising awareness by facilitating capacity building opportunities through volunteering in our project.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
