About Speakers:

Ms. Karuna Kunwar is a widely known psychologist in Nepal. She has over eighteen years of experience with expertise in psychosocial support and mental health including stress management and mindfulness.  She is also serving as a senior psychologist at Centre for Mental Health and Counselling, Nepal (CMC-Nepal). She has published numerous articles on variety of mental health and psychosocial  issues. She is also working as external stress counsellor in Critical incident and stress management Unit (CISMU) for UN in Nepal.

Mr. Sauharda Rai is a PhD candidate in International Studies and Global Health at The University of Washington – Seattle. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, his work explores the relationship between migration and mental health in Nepal. He is studying how departure of men brings changes in families who are staying behind in Nepal, and how those changes impact their mental health.

Before starting his PhD, he worked at Duke University, The George Washington University and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Nepal on studies looking at the effect of conflict and disaster on mental health, building health systems in post-conflict societies and mental health stigma. He has published his work in various peer-reviewed journals.

Ms. Sita Regmi, Psychosocial Counselor from Syangja district

Mr. Som P. Lamichhane, Director, Pravasi Nepali Coordination Committee (PNCC)