Barriers to mental health care access in Nepal. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Atreya, Alok; Upreti, Manish; Nepal, Samata
• Is Part Of: Medico-legal journal. Volume 91:Part 1(2023)
• Page Start: 54
• Page End: 55
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: Mental health -- mental illness -- stigma -- superstition, Nepal; Medical jurisprudence -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Crime -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 614.105
• DOI: 10.1177/00258172221141293
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-8172

Abstract

Mental disorders are stigmatised in Nepal. There are many instances where mentally ill people are tormented by their family members and society and where patients with mental illness are shackled and kept under house arrest. Physical illness attracts early medical care, but not mental illness. There are no asylums for patients suffering from mental illness. The Nepalese government must prioritise it as a serious health issue and allocate more money and take steps to tackle the stigma and deficiencies associated with it.