'Onus on government to make smart investment in mental health'
Summary
Anjan Kumar Dhakal emphasizes the importance of government investment in mental health and discusses the use of psychological tools, affordability of therapy, and the need for policy reforms in Nepal.
Key Points
- Mental hygiene is as important as personal hygiene and requires government investment to meet patients' needs.
- Psychological tools are used to assess patients' mental health for diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Belief systems, including faith in shamans, can impact psychotherapy, but patients are free to seek such services if beneficial.
- Mental health costs vary, with services regulated by the Nepal Health Professional Council and fee structures defined accordingly.
- Mental health education should be included at the school level and government should allocate adequate budget for mental health sector.
