Dear Friends of NEPsychNet,

I am thrilled to share that we are marking a significant milestone—15 years since the inception of NEPsychNet. It’s incredible how swiftly time has flown by since we, as students, recognized the need for a communication channel in the field of psychology. Reflecting on our journey, I’m reminded of the words of graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister in his TED talk: “Act or forget, stop complaining!” This simple yet powerful attitude has been our guiding principle from the outset and continues to define our approach to this day.

Upon reflecting the journey of NEPsychNet, I’ve occasionally questioned the necessity of our continued efforts in an era where information is just a click away. The landscape has transformed since 2008 when we frequented cyber cafes for internet access. Today, we carry the internet in our pockets. Despite these changes, I believe in the enduring value of our network. The ease of access to information should not diminish the importance of our collective connection, knowledge sharing, and collaborative efforts.

Let’s take a moment to revisit some key events in our timeline (2008-2023):

• 2008: Commencement at Tribhuvan University
• 2009: Registration of our website – psychology.com.np
• 2010-2011: Collaborations with Central Association of Psychology Students (CAPS), organizing seminars (Link 1, Link 2)
• 2012: Workshop in collaboration with Martin Chautari (Link)
• 2012: Handover of books from Prof. Margaret Stroebe and Dr. Om Baniya to the library of Central Department of Psychology in TU (Link)
• 2015: Training on Community-based Psychological First Aid with Prof. Gerard Jacobs (Link)
• 2018: Initiation of the Record of Nepali Psychologists (Still receiving new entries) (Link)
• 2020: Webinar series (Link)
• 2020: Publication of a review report (Link)
• 2021: Celebration of Bhava Poudyal’s receipt of the International Humanitarian Award by APA (Link)
• 2021: Commemoration of Ayan Bahadur Shrestha’s passing (Link)
• 2022: Support for the initiative/launch of nepalmentalhealth.com portal (Link)
• 2023: Celebrating 15 Years of NEPsychNet

I extend heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey, especially Abindra Dongol, Sanjeev Prajapati, Mahendra Maharjan, Silu Shrestha, Shyam Sundar Shrestha, Raj Kaji Prajapati, Sushil Gurung, and other classmates and teachers who provided unwavering support during the early phases of this project. Special thanks to Dr. Brandon Kohrt from George Washington University and Prof. Lawrence Krimayer from McGill University, whose encouragement prompted the initiation of our listserv.

A sincere appreciation goes out to Nepali psychologists, scholars, and practitioners who collaborated with us for workshops, seminars, and training. I am also thankful to Palistha Tuladhar, Deepshikha Dongol, and Rita Gurung, who have been invaluable contributors to our sub-projects.

As we celebrate this milestone, let’s renew our commitment to fostering a supportive community and continue spreading the word to newcomers, students, and professionals who can benefit from joining NEPsychNet.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2024!