11 per cent of Karnali people are suffering from mental health issues
Summary
11 per cent of Karnali’s population, or 185,725 people, are suffering from mental health problems, prompting the provincial government to expand awareness, treatment and psychosocial counselling programs across all 10 districts. Officials and health experts say poverty, unemployment, urbanization, social pressure and discrimination are worsening the crisis, with suicide cases also rising.
Key Points
- Karnali province says 185,725 people, or 11 per cent of its population, are suffering from mental health problems.
- The Social Development Ministry has expanded awareness and orientation programmes across all 10 districts and trained around 600 health workers on conversion disorder.
- Officials linked rising mental illness to poverty, unemployment, foreign employment, social media misuse, discrimination and harmful traditions.
- Health and education officials urged families, schools and local governments to provide stronger support and reduce stigma around mental health.
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