1. PRogramme for Improving Mental health carE (PRIME):

PRIME is a research programme consortium for integration of mental health in primary health care.The aim of PRIME is to generate world-class research evidence on the implementation and scaling up of treatment programmes for priority mental disorders in primary and maternal health care contexts in low resource settings. This will be achieved by developing and evaluating feasible models for integrating mental health into primary health care (PHC); by generating knowledge on how these services can be most effectively scaled up through district and national plans; and by assessing their impact. PRIME will be implemented in selected communities in five countries: Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa and Uganda.

In Nepal, the program will be implemented in Chitwan district by TPO Nepal in collaboration with Ministry of Health (MOH). PRIME is funded by the DFID and international consortium of partner institution led by the University of Cape Town.

PRIME will achieve its purpose by addressing three objectives in overlapping phases: 1. Inception phase (Year 1): We will develop an integrated mental health care plan comprising packages of mental health care for delivery in primary health care and maternal health care. 2. Implementation phase (Years 2-4):  we will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and impact of the packages of care in primary health care and maternal health care. 3. Scaling Up phase (years 5-6): We will evaluate the scaling up of these packages of care at the level of administrative health units (AHUs).

The expected outcomes: 1. Increased uptake of findings to influence policy and practice in the study countries, other LMIC and by development agencies and donors, to support scaling up of mental health care in LMIC. 2. Improved mental health, social and economic outcomes for: (a) populations in the Administrative Health Units (AHUs) in which the PRIME research programme will be carried out; and (b) other populations in which mental health services have been substantially scaled up, based on the outputs generated by PRIME. 3. Sustainable research capacity in the participating country institutions to develop, undertake, and disseminate the research to implement and scale up mental health services. 4. Sustainable partnerships for future collaborations between the international partners and, in each country, between academic partners, MoH and NGOs.

2. Psychosocial Support to Bhutanese Refugees: Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Nepal has been implementing “Psychosocial Support to Bhutanese Refugees in Camps” project since July 2008 together with UNHCR’s other implementing partners. The overall objectives of the psychosocial support program is to improve psychosocial well-being (reduce psychosocial distress) among the Bhutanese refugee population;  promote community resilience and capacity to address psychosocial problems; establish camp and community-based structures and systems of psychosocial care; increase understanding of the psychosocial and mental health status of refugees in the camp, and the level of, and indicators for, social cohesion within the camps, to inform and adapt the psychosocial care package as needed.

3. Psychosocial Support to Urban Refugees: TPO has also started psychosocial support to urban refugees (especially Pakistani and Somali) from January 2010. Five experienced psychosocial counselors including 3 expriate and 2 National counselors have been providing psychosocial support to the referrals. Individual counseling, group interventions (including tree of life) orientation on psychosocial issues and training and capacity building of partner organization are key activities.

4. Psychosocial Support to Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG) and Verified Minors and Late Recruits (VMLRs): Social reintegration and psychosocial support to self/informally released CAAFAG and CAAC including verified minors and late recruits (VMLRs) is one of the major components of the re-integration package. TPO Nepal in collaboration with UNICEF and its implementing partners providing psychosocial support for the Verified Minors and Late Recruits (VMLR) of Maoist combatants and CAAFAG based in three regional centers namely Biratnagar, Chitwan, and Dhangadi through Regional Psychosocial Counselors in the respective region.  The overall objective of the project is to facilitate to the social reintegration of the discharges through the promotion of life skills, community based peace building and reconciliation activities.

5. Psychosocial Support to Women and Children Working in Entertainment Sector: The “Naya Bato Naya Paila” is a large project supported my US department of labour. The overall objective of the project is to support girls and women working in the entertainment sectors in Kathmandu valley. TPO Nepal is providing technical support on psychosocial and mental health aspect in the project. The project was started in January 2010 together with three implementing partners of Tdh. The overall objectives of the psychosocial component of the project is to provide technical, clinical and emotional support to the counselors in order to strengthen their capacity and encourage them to keep developing themselves on a professional and personal level.

6. Psychosocial Support for Victims of Sexual Violence during the Conflict: To promote psychosocial well-being of vulnerable girls, women and families, by reducing psychosocial distress resulting from the experience of sexual violence, TPO Nepal is the psychosocial partner on a UNICEF/UNFPA project to address cases of sexual violence committed during the conflict in 14 districts. The holistic approach combines information gathering with service delivery (legal, reproductive health and psychosocial support) in order to avoid re-traumatizing or stigmatizing survivors. TPO Nepal's CPSWs and Counselors conduct psychosocial orientations for district stakeholders and communities, provide initial screening, assessment, psychological first aid, and psychosocial counseling at reproductive health camps, operate psycho-education and support groups, and have established referral systems linking women/girls to other community services.

7. Combating Trafficking in Persons: TPO Nepal is the lead psychosocial partner in this comprehensive five year project of The Asia Foundation to prevent trafficking, protect trafficking survivors and prosecute traffickers in 6 highly affected districts of Nepal: Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, Kathmandu, Makawanpur, Banke and Kanchanpur. TPO’s major role at the national level is to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MOWCSW) in developing National Minimum Standards (NMS) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for care and protection of trafficking survivors. TPO Nepal will also provide clinical supervision and capacity building support to improve the quality of psychosocial services in shelters, alternative care and in community.

8. Psychosocial Support for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS: TPO Nepal implemented the first psychosocial support project for children affected by HIV/AIDS and their families in Sunsari district. Based on learning and best practices, the project has now been replicated in Kailali. Informed by a psychosocial assessment conducted by TPO, a comprehensive community psychosocial support program was developed, comprising of three layers of support from basic psychosocial orientation to specialized care for severe cases. To develop a supportive environment, TPO conducts psychosocial training for teachers, health workers and local organizations working with persons living with HIV/AIDS. Project services includes assessment, individual and family counseling, and regular health checkups by a health professional. Cultural programs and street dramas have also conducted to raise the awareness of community members on the psychosocial impact of living with HIV/AIDS.