Introduction

World Mental Health Day is observed every year on 10 October to raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage collective action. World Mental Health Day 2026 centers on a powerful and overdue truth: true progress in mental healthcare starts by listening to those who know it best. The official theme for this year, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” champions the principle of "nothing about us without us," urging health systems to place individuals with direct experience of mental health conditions at the heart of policymaking and service design.

The Global and National Picture

Mental health challenges remain a universal public health crisis, yet support systems have historically struggled to adapt.

• Mental health is a growing public health concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion people globally live with mental health conditions, highlighting the urgent need for accessible and affordable care (WHO, 2025).
• In Nepal, the National Mental Health Survey 2019–2020 reported that 4.3% of adults experienced a mental disorder in the preceding month, while the lifetime prevalence was 10% among adults and 5.2% among adolescents (Dhimal et al., 2022). Furthermore, WHO and UNICEF highlighted in 2025 that 18.3% of children aged 6–18 years in Nepal experienced emotional or behavioural difficulties (WHO & UNICEF, 2025).
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Key areas for action in Nepal

1. Amplifying real voices

People with mental health conditions, their families, caregivers, and community members should have opportunities to participate in public discussions, research, and policy development. Their perspectives should inform decisions about the services they use and the support they need.

2. Reducing stigma and discrimination

Mental health conditions should be discussed with the same respect afforded to physical health conditions. Public awareness campaigns, school programs, media engagement, and community dialogue can challenge harmful stereotypes and encourage early help-seeking.

Families and communities can contribute by listening without judgement, maintaining confidentiality, and supporting individuals throughout recovery.

3. Strengthening community-based mental health care

Mental health services should be integrated into primary health care, general hospitals, schools, and community settings. Community-based services, counselling, psychosocial rehabilitation, peer-support groups, and appropriate specialist referrals can help people receive care closer to their homes. Nepal should continue strengthening the capacity of health workers to identify and manage common mental health conditions and refer individuals who require specialized care.

Prioritizing suicide prevention

Suicide prevention requires coordinated action across health services, schools, families, communities, and government agencies. Important measures include early identification of distress, appropriate assessment, timely treatment, follow-up support, responsible media reporting, and reducing access to highly hazardous means of suicide. People experiencing suicidal thoughts should be approached with compassion and connected promptly with qualified professionals and available emergency support.

Promoting mental health among children and young people

Schools and universities should promote emotional literacy, coping skills, supportive relationships, anti-bullying measures, and access to confidential counselling. Parents, teachers, and health professionals should be equipped to recognize warning signs and guide young people towards appropriate assistance.

Strengthening research, policy, and accountability 

Nepal needs continued investment in reliable mental health data, research, trained personnel, and accessible services. Research should include the perspectives of people with lived experience and examine differences in access to care across geographical, socioeconomic, and demographic groups.

Evidence should be translated into measurable action, with clear responsibilities for implementation and evaluation.

The role of health professionals, researchers, and communities

• Health professionals have a responsibility to provide compassionate, evidence-based, person-centred care. They should respect the autonomy, dignity, and rights of individuals while involving them in decisions about treatment and recovery.

• Researchers can contribute by conducting ethically sound studies that reflect the needs and experiences of people living with mental health conditions. Community organizations and peer-support groups can help reduce isolation, strengthen coping, and connect people with appropriate services.

• Families and friends also play an important role. Listening attentively, offering practical support, avoiding blame, and encouraging professional help can make a meaningful difference. Communities should recognize that recovery is not always linear and that individuals may require different forms of support at different stages of life.

From listening to meaningful change

• The theme of World Mental Health Day 2026 calls for a shift from awareness alone towards participation, accountability, and action. Nepal has taken important steps, including national mental health initiatives and efforts to strengthen suicide prevention. However, the available evidence shows that significant challenges remain in access to treatment, stigma reduction, early intervention, and community-based support.

• Progress will require sustained government commitment, adequate financing, trained personnel, collaboration among sectors, and meaningful participation by people with lived experience. Policies should be judged not only by their existence but also by whether individuals can access respectful, affordable, effective, and timely care.

• Every person who shares an experience should be heard with dignity. Every family seeking support should be treated with compassion. Every service user should have a meaningful opportunity to influence their care.

Conclusion

This World Mental Health Day, let us listen with empathy, act with compassion, and turn real stories into real change. Together, we can build a healthier, kinder, and more inclusive tomorrow.

Kamala Saki Shrestha

Deputy Nursing Controller, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital