Mental health and psychosocial support training at Nuwakot

A six days training for prescribers and three days training for non-prescribers on mental health and psychosocial support was successfully conducted at Likhu and Suryagadhi rural municipalities of Nuwakot district. These trainings were organized by Likhu and Suryagadhi rural municipalities with the technical support of TPO Nepal. The objective of this training was to enable health workers to provide diagnosis, treatment and basic psychosocial support in the community level as well as referral for complicated cases. This training was also important to minimize the stigma and discrimination of mental health in the community and increase the accessibility of treatment to community people.

The trainings were conducted in various phases. In Likhu rural municipality ward no. 4, three days training for non-prescribers was conducted from 28^th to 30^th June, 2018 where 9 participants from 3 health facilities participated. Similarly, in Likhu municipality ward no. 1, six days prescribers training was conducted from 4^th to 9^th July 2018 where 6 participants from Suryagadhi and Likhu participated. Lastly, in Suryagadhi rural municipality, three days non prescriber training was conducted from 11^th to 13^th July 2018 where 11 participants from 4 health facilities of Suryagadhi participated.

The training sessions ended with certificate distribution to participants from chairperson, vice chairperson and Chief Administrative Officer of these rural municipalities. During the training, locally elected representatives made commitment to purchase essential mental health drugs regularly in all health facilities and requested to all health workers to use learnt skills in their work.