KATHMANDU, Jan 4: Anxiety and depression are the most prevalent mental health disorders in Nepali society, according to the Nepal Health Survey 2022. The survey shows that these disorders are particularly common among people aged 15 to 49.
Data indicate that 22 percent of women and 11 percent of men in this age group experience anxiety. Depression affects 5 percent of women and 2 percent of men.
On Friday, Dr Vasudev Karki, a psychiatrist at the Mental Hospital, shared these findings during a virtual conference organized by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division and the Non-Communicable and Mental Health Disease Section. He highlighted that stigma, lack of awareness, and societal neglect prevent many affected individuals from being identified and receiving treatment.
Coping with anxiety disorder in children
Dr Karki noted that both anxiety and depression can significantly disrupt daily life, and severe depression can even lead to suicidal behavior. Rising suicide rates underline the urgency of addressing these conditions at the local level. The virtual conference aimed to raise awareness and promote early detection and intervention through community participation.
Anxiety often manifests as persistent worry, feelings of insecurity, or sudden increases in heart rate. Depression can cause persistent sadness, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, inability to perform daily tasks, hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and unexplained physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches.
Although Nepal’s health policy and the 16th Five-Year Plan provide for local-level treatment of mental disorders, many patients do not seek care, leaving hospital mental health services underutilized. Dr. Pomawati Thapa, head of the Non-Communicable and Mental Health Disease Section, emphasized that efforts are underway to make these services more accessible and functional.
During the virtual conference, doctors provided guidance to citizens on recognizing symptoms, seeking timely treatment, and managing these conditions locally. The campaign will continue until the month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March).
Under the 16th Five-Year Plan, treatment for five major mental disorders—schizophrenia, psychosis, anxiety, depression, and childhood behavioral disorders—is provided free of cost, including necessary medications. Nepal’s Public Health Policy 2077 and the Constitution of 2072 recognize mental health services as an integral part of basic healthcare, ensuring that such services are available at primary hospital levels.
