KATHMANDU, Oct 10: The United Nations in Nepal has urged the government of Nepal to take urgent action to address the increasing mental health problems in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day today, the United Nations in Nepal suggested to the government to strengthen the actions to minimize the deteriorating mental health situation among the Nepali population citing the rise in suicide cases among youths in Nepal.

According to the latest data from Nepal Police, suicide cases among adolescent girls have increased by almost 40 percent during the first four months of the nationwide lockdown, compared to the previous year. Along with COVID-19, gender related issues also seem to have attributed to the rise of suicide cases.

Welcoming recent address made by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s address regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and the number of initiatives taken by the Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens in recent years, the UN highlighted the need for mass awareness on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of the general public in the view of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The UN also expressed solidarity with the Nepal government in making mental health and psychosocial services easily available and accessible for all in Nepal.

 
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