-Richa Aryal
Student, MA Psychology, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University,
ANTARANG Psychosocial Research and Training Institute
“There is no health without optimal mental health.”
This belief was not just a slogan but the guiding spirit of the National Community Mental Health Conference, held in Kathmandu on December 5 and 6, 2025. Grounded in this shared understanding, the conference created a meaningful space for dialogue, learning, and collective commitment toward strengthening community mental health systems in Nepal.
The conference was jointly organized by Tarangini Foundation and Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), Department of Health Services (DoHS). The co-organizers included Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC Nepal), ANTARANG Psychosocial Research and Training Institute, CWIN Nepal, SWASA Nepal, Health Foundation Nepal (HFN), Chhahari Nepal for Mental Health (CNMH), Women Forum for Women in Nepal (WOFOWON), Purple Foundation, Nirvana Psychosocial Care and Research Centre, Heart-Mind Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., Sunita Foundation, Shramjibi Mahila Manch, and media partner ACORAB Nepal, under the co-convenorship of Dr. Renu Adhikari and Ms. Sushama Regmi. Over two days, the event brought together more than 200 participants, including mental health professionals, policymakers, researchers, practitioners, representatives from organizations and institutions, and students of psychology, public health, nursing, and related disciplines from diverse provinces and communities across the country.
The valuable presence of the Honorable Dr. Sudha Sharma (Minister of Health, Ministry of Health and Population), Dr. Khaled Hassine (ESCR Expert, OHCHR), Dr. Bikas Devkota (Health Secretary), Dr. Pushpa Prasad Sharma (Psychiatrist), Dr. Rishav Koirala (Consultant Psychiatrist and Researcher), and many other distinguished professionals made this conference even more impactful.
A Meeting of Knowledge, Experience, and Practice
What made this conference particularly impactful was its intentional effort to bridge multiple knowledge systems. Participants were not only discussing policies or theories but also sharing field realities-what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change. Throughout the sessions, strong emphasis was placed on evidence-based practice in community mental health, while also critically reflecting on how evidence must be adapted to cultural, social, and resource realities to be truly effective.
Key thematic sessions such as “Policy, Strategy and Action Plan Regarding Mental Health-From Paper to Practice”, “Women, Work, and Well-being – Unpacking the Mental Health Dimensions of the Right to Work” and “Community-Rooted Mental Health Practice: Bridging ethics, culture, Evidence and Collaboration” reflected some of the most pressing mental health challenges in Nepal.
The first panel featured four panelists- Mr. Tek Raj DC (EDCD representative), Dr. Kedar Marahatta (Mental Health Expert, WHO Nepal), Dr. Basudev Karki (Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Mental Hospital), Mr. Matrika Devkota (ED, KOSHISH Nepal)- with Dr. Suraj Shakya (Clinical Psychologist, IOM, TU) serving as the moderator.
The second panel also included four panelists- Dr. Karuna Onta, (Social Psychologist, Strategic Advisor, Sajha Dhago), Dr. Priti Mandal (Assistant Professor, TU), Dr. Mita Rana (Clinical Psychologist, TU), Ms. Priti Shrestha (Program Analyst, UN Women)- moderated by Mr. Sunil Babu Pant (Founder, Blue Diamond Society).
The third panels consist of five panelists- Ms. Sunita Shrestha (Psychologist, ANTARANG Psychosocial Research and Training Institute), Dr. Chhori Laxmi Maharjan (Director and Principal Psychologist, Ankur Counseling and Training Center), Mr. Ganesh Amgain (Gestalt Psychotherapist, Nirvana Psychosocial Care and Research Centre), Ms. Pragya Shrestha (Gestalt Psychotherapist, Gestalt Institute Nepal), and Ms. Anuradha Acharya (Psychologist, Founder member, NIOMH)- with Ms. Sushama Regmi (Psychologist, ANTARANG Psychosocial Research and Training Institute) as the moderator. These sessions were enriched through expert presentations, panel discussions, and experience-sharing that highlighted the gaps between policy intentions and lived realities while reinforcing the importance of grounding community mental health interventions in both scientific evidence and contextual understanding.
For many participants, especially students, these discussions offered a deeper understanding of mental health beyond textbooks. Hearing practitioners speak about ethical dilemmas, cultural sensitivities, and resource constraints made community mental health feel real, complex, and deeply human.
Learning as a Psychology Student
From the perspective of a psychology student, the conference was both grounding and inspiring. Concepts learned in classrooms-prevention, early intervention, supervision, and community engagement-came alive through real stories from the field. Listening to community psychosocial workers, counselors, and facilitators discuss their experiences emphasized the importance of culturally responsive practice, ethical supervision, and sustained support systems.
The sessions also highlighted how mental health work does not happen in isolation. Families, traditional healers, teachers, local leaders, and communities themselves play a critical role. This reinforced an important lesson for emerging professionals: effective mental health care is not only about clinical skills, but also about collaboration, humility, and respect for local knowledge.
From Discussion to Declaration
One of the most significant outcomes of the conference was the formulation of a Conference Declaration, developed through panel discussions and group work. The declaration emphasized a clear shift toward prevention, early identification, and community-based care, reducing over-reliance on hospitals and specialists while strengthening evidence-based interventions at the community level.
Key recommendations included strengthening locally available mental health support systems; ensuring quality, sustainability, and context-appropriate services through training, supervision, and integrated accreditation systems; and immediately establishing continuous supervision and support mechanisms for community-level mental health facilitators.
Recognizing Nepal’s cultural context, the declaration also called for collaboration with traditional healers such as Dhami and Jhankri, equipping them with basic skills to identify mental and psychosocial problems and refer individuals appropriately. It emphasized the inclusion of community-based models and operational guidelines within the National Mental Health Policy.
Gender sensitivity and social inclusion were central themes throughout the declaration. Participants strongly acknowledged the impact of geographical, economic, gender-based, and cultural disparities on access to mental health services, calling for targeted interventions for women and other marginalized groups.
Looking Ahead: Building a Community-Centered Mental Health System
The declaration further highlighted the urgency of integrating mental health into primary health care, strengthening awareness, screening, and early intervention at the community level, and ensuring mental health and psychosocial support are embedded in emergency preparedness for disasters, pandemics, and humanitarian crises.
Equally important was the emphasis on participation, ensuring that individuals with lived experience and community representatives are actively involved in planning, implementation, and monitoring. The role of tele-mental health, research grounded in community realities, and strong collaboration among government bodies, academic institutions, media, the private sector, and communities was also underscored.
A Collective Step Forward
Overall, the National Community Mental Health Conference 2025 played a significant role in strengthening dialogue, coordination, and future directions for mental health in Nepal. It reminded participants that meaningful change requires not only policies and programs, but also trust, collaboration, and sustained commitment.
For psychology students and early-career professionals, the conference served as a powerful reminder of why mental health work matters and how deeply it is rooted in communities, culture, and collective responsibility. The declaration stands not as an endpoint, but as a call to action for all stakeholders to transform shared insights into lasting impact.
About the writer:
Richa Aryal is a Master’s level psychology student with a strong academic focus on public and mental health. She has authored over thirteen publications in these fields and has participated in various trainings related to mental health, psychosocial support, and research methods. She is actively engaged with ANTARANG Psychosocial Research and Training Institute, a mental health–focused institution involved in research, training, and community-based initiatives. Driven by a strong passion for research and capacity building, Ms. Aryal is committed to advancing evidence-based and contextually responsive mental health practices.
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