The Department of Health Services has announced a nationwide expansion of its mental health awareness initiative, extending services to all seven provinces. Previously limited to major urban centers, the program will now reach remote districts where mental health services have been virtually nonexistent.

Under the expanded program, 5,000 community health workers will receive training in basic psychological first aid, depression screening, and referral protocols. The World Health Organization and several international NGOs are providing technical and financial support for the initiative.

Mental health professionals say Nepal faces a severe shortage of psychiatrists, with fewer than 100 practicing psychiatrists serving a population of nearly 30 million. The stigma surrounding mental illness remains a major barrier to treatment-seeking behavior, particularly in rural communities.

The government has also announced plans to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare facilities and establish a national mental health helpline available around the clock. Advocates hope the program will reduce the alarming suicide rate, which has risen significantly in recent years.