Mental Health Awareness Provided to Dalit Representatives in Karnali Province

Surkhet. Mental health awareness has been provided to Dalit representatives of local levels in Karnali Province. Through an interaction program organized by the Ministry of Social Development, Karnali Province Government, Surkhet, in Birendranagar today, awareness about mental health and non-communicable diseases was provided to representatives of 79 local levels here.

In the program, World Health Organization (WHO) representative Pradip Adhikari stated that since non-communicable diseases are affecting the global human community, every country and citizen needs to be vigilant about this.

He emphasized that although many efforts are being made for the identification, control, and prevention of non-communicable diseases, millions worldwide and thousands in Nepal lose their lives, therefore, individuals must improve their lifestyle and governments must adopt the policies and directives issued to maintain mental and physical health.

Karnali Province's mental health specialist Dr. Sushil Samdarshi presented data showing that mental and non-communicable diseases are increasing in society lately. He stated that due to poverty, illiteracy, deprivation, information and technology, social media, and changing lifestyles, mental illnesses are appearing in every family and society, and due to this, incidents like anxiety, depression, and suicide are increasing, and he spoke about the timely identification, control, and prevention measures for these.

Khagendra Prakash Gaire, contact person for the mental health program at the Ministry of Social Development, Surkhet, said that the program was organized with the objective of increasing public awareness among Dalit representatives of local levels about diseases like non-communicable heart disease, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory problems, which are on the rise. He stated that this would help in timely identification of diseases and prevent untimely deaths.

In the awareness program, 95 people participated, including Karnali Province Assembly member Ransingh Pariyar, former assembly member Sita Nepali, District Coordination Committee Surkhet chief Gangaram Sunar, Gurbhakot Municipality deputy mayor Maina BK, Chaukune Rural Municipality chairman Khadka BK, and other local level executive members.