WHO Nepal/S.Shrestha
© Credits
WHO Nepal/S.Shrestha
© Credits

Ganesh Rai, 35

Public Health Inspector, Kot Health Post  

Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality, Bhojpur, Nepal

When I first encountered a patient with psychosis, I had just completed my mhGAP training. It was a daunting experience. The patient was tied up with ropes at home – his family didn’t know how to manage his behavior. I was determined to help him, no matter what. I began documenting his progress and sharing short video clips in our WhatsApp group, created during the training. A psychiatrist in the group provided timely feedback and confirmed my diagnosis. Today, the patient is working abroad and living a productive life. That success gave me happiness and determination to continue.

Since then, I’ve managed over 30 mental health cases, mostly involving anxiety and depression. Many of my patients have been women over the age of 50. One elderly woman once told me that after receiving treatment, it felt like a thorn had been removed from her body. That moment deeply moved me.

Mental health is incredibly important. After our training, we realized that identifying a problem is only the first step. Effective management is what truly helps patients. If we fail to follow through, patients drop out of care. Most prefer to receive services locally, and if we can’t provide that, they simply stay home.

Despite our progress, we still face challenges. Only a few of us have received mhGAP training, and we haven’t had a refresher in three years. Having a psychiatrist available in the district – or even in our support group – would make a huge difference. We need ongoing training, especially in counseling, to better serve our patients.

Still, I find great satisfaction in helping my own community. Their happiness is my happiness. When they recover, I know the work we’re doing is meaningful – and that keeps me going.

Photo credit for all images: WHO Nepal/S.Shrestha