TPO Nepal works in various thematic areas: confl ict, refugees, emergency response, sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and strengthening psychosocial/mental health systems etc. Within these thematic areas, TPO takes cutting edge psychosocial interventions and contextualizes them for Nepal through an integrated program of research, capacity building, service provision and advocacy on psychosocial and mental health issues.

1. Research

Research provides the evidence base that informs TPO Nepal’s intervention and project design process. We conduct research – from needs assessments to scientific studies - on psychosocial needs, mental health status of vulnerable populations, coping mechanisms, existing systems of care and support, and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions.

2. Capacity Building

Building local capacity is critical to the development of sustainable community-based psychosocial systems. TPO Nepal builds capacity of community members and staff of local organizations to better understand psychosocial needs and provide psychosocial care and support, through community orientations and psycho-education programs, a variety of training packages, and ongoing technical supervision and mentoring of psychosocial workers.

Orientations and trainings range from half-day sessions up to 6 month courses:

• Psychosocial orientations for community members (½ - 1 day)
• Psychosocial orientations for CBO and NGO staff (1-3 days)
• Psycho-education programs for community members (5-8 sessions)
• Community Psychosocial Worker (CPSW) trainings (5-28 days)
• Classroom-Based Intervention (CBI) Facilitator trainings (10 days)
• Psychosocial Counselor Trainings (4-6 months)

Specialized trainings

• Substance Abuse Prevention and Basic Intervention (5-10 days)
• Psychosocial Support for Children and Families Affected by HIV/AIDS (7 days)
• Dealing with Gender-based Violence and Other Gender Issues (3-5 days)
• Psychological First Aid (3 days)
• Care for Caregivers Workshop (3-5 days)
• Orientation on the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial and Support in
   Emergency Settings (2 days)

3. Psychosocial Service Provision

To promote improved well-being, functioning and resilience of vulnerable individuals and families, TPO Nepal’s experienced team of CPSWs, Counselors and Clinical Supervisors

• Community mobilization
• Outreach and assessment
• Individual counseling
• Family counseling
• Classroom-based intervention (CBI) for school-going children
• Referral and case management
• Other group interventions to strengthen healthy coping behaviors
• Vulnerable childrens’ groups
• Former child combatant groups: Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed
• Groups (CAAFAG) and Verifi ed Minors and Late Recruits (VMLR)
• Women’s empowerment groups
• Substance abusers support groups

In addition to project-based services for vulnerable groups, TPO Nepal’s counseling team offers clinic-based psychosocial services to the general population in Kathmandu.

4. Networking and Advocacy

One of TPO Nepal’s key objectives is to promote availability and accessibility of basic psychosocial and mental health care and support services throughout the country, including through the government health system. Such systemic change requires collaboration with all relevant actors and intensive policy advocacy.

TPO is a member of several national networks and working groups aiming at policy change and effective, broad-based implementation of psychosocial/mental health services:

• National Mental Health Network (Co-founding agency)
• National Protection Cluster for Humanitarian Response (Member)
• National Working Group on Children Affected by Confl ict (Member)
• National Mine Action Working Group (Member)
• The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Technical Committee for Psychosocial/
   Mental Health (Co-chair)
• Steering Committee for Certification of 6 month Psychosocial Counseling Training (Co-chair)

These activities are functionally interrelated, each informing development of the others in a continuous, interactive process.