Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today stressed the need for creating an enabling environment for patients with mental illness to live a respectable life. Accusations and discriminations should not take place against mentally ill people to build an inclusive and equitable society, he said in a video message disseminated on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day today. There was a need to advance additional effective initiatives in reducing ignorance, superstation and accusations relating to mental health, he said.
Prime Minister Dahal shared, “Mentally ill people are like patients with other illness. So, we must stop discriminating against mentally ill people. We must treat them respectively.” Pointing out the need for creating an environment conducive for promoting mental health, the PM said, “There is a need for coordination with other countries to ensure Nepali citizens get their basic rights at workplace.” He expressed his concerns over the report that one of 10 Nepalis are suffering from mental illness, and 19 lose their lives on a daily basis.
“Widespread factors in the society like poverty, unemployment, ethnic and gender-based discrimination, lack of health lifestyle and cultural violence have been directly affecting mental health of people. Such existing injustices are against the constitution,” mentioned the Prime Minister. For good mental health, he also urged people to have balanced diet, enough sleep, regular exercise and the exchange of helps and support among friends and friends in problems.
