Mental health support for low income communities

Building on the momentum established earlier this year, Jaya Mental Health returned to Mustang in November and December to further strengthen local capacity in mental health care and psychosocial support across the region.

During this visit, a six-day Basic Psychosocial Support Training was delivered to a diverse group of frontline health and social care professionals. Participants included nurses from Mustang’s only general hospital, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), health assistants (HAs), and school nurses. The training focused on practical, context-appropriate skills to identify mental health needs, offer initial psychosocial support, and make appropriate referrals, helping to embed mental health care within routine health and education services.

In parallel with the training, the Jaya team met with all staff at the local hospital, facilitating group discussions and individual interviews to better understand their professional challenges, anxieties, and aspirations for skills development. These conversations provided valuable insight into the pressures faced by remote health workers and highlighted a strong desire for ongoing learning, supervision, and mental health-specific competencies.

Community engagement was a key feature of this phase. Meetings were held with local mothers’ groups, faith healers, ayurvedic doctors, and individuals with lived experience of mental health difficulties. These dialogues helped surface local beliefs, barriers to care, and community-driven ideas for improving mental wellbeing, reinforcing the importance of culturally grounded approaches to mental health in Mustang.

To reach younger populations, mental health awareness sessions were also delivered to students at a large local school. These sessions encouraged open discussion, challenged stigma, and introduced students to the idea that mental health is an essential part of overall wellbeing, deserving of care and attention just like physical health.

Together, these activities mark an important step forward in creating a more connected, informed, and compassionate mental health ecosystem in Mustang. By working simultaneously with health professionals, community leaders, and young people, this phase of the project has laid the foundations for more accessible and sustainable mental health support in one of Nepal’s most remote regions.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support in making this work possible!

In recent months, Jaya Mental Health successfully delivered training for 43 Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), reaching every health post across Mustang, a region high up in the Himalayas, in Nepal. This initiative aimed to equip volunteers with essential mental health care skills, directly benefiting all districts in Mustang and supporting the wellbeing of the region’s approximately 15,000 residents.
Prior to these training sessions, most FCHVs had only a limited understanding of mental health, often viewing it through the lens of stigma—seeing those affected as unable to make decisions, participate in daily life, or as a danger to family and society. These misconceptions resulted in isolation and exclusion for individuals living with mental health challenges.
Through the recent training, these perspectives have begun to shift. Participants now recognise that good mental health is central to overall wellbeing, and have learned to identify signs such as withdrawal, reduced communication, and behavioural changes as indicators of possible mental health needs. The volunteers are now better equipped to break down stereotypes and approach mental health issues with empathy and support, rather than judgement.
Special attention was given to maternal mental health—a crucial area in Mustang, where a lack of awareness can contribute to neglect and even loss of life. By empowering local health workers with practical knowledge and skills, this initiative encourages FCHVs to act as champions for mental health, supporting individuals to seek help and fostering resilience within their communities.
Quote from Female Community Health Volunteer and Women’s Group President, Dhiki Chemjong Gurung:
“I am truly grateful to be part of this training. I have learned how important it is to avoid using harsh words, to recognize individuals by the way they walk and speak, and to understand how we can support them. A person living with mental health issues needs love and care, as these conditions can be both prevented and healed. As an FCHV and women’s group president, I am committed to sharing this knowledge with others to help break the stereotypes around mental health.”

Thank you for your support!

Links:

• Our mental health outreach work