28th June 2025, Mahottari.
To strengthen the ongoing efforts to end child marriage, early marriage, and forced marriage, CWIN-Nepal, in collaboration with Save the Children UK, organized a focused orientation program on mental health and stress management for representatives of civil society organizations from Mahottari and Sarlahi districts.

The orientation aimed to enhance participants’ capacity to recognize and respond to mental health issues among children and adolescents, particularly those affected by harmful practices such as child marriage. The session was facilitated by Dr. Amit Jha, a psychiatrist from the Mental Hospital, Lagankhel, who provided in-depth guidance on early identification of mental health concerns, available treatment and psychosocial support services, and practical techniques for managing stress.

Participants were actively engaged in exercises and group discussions focused on building personal and organizational resilience. Dr. Jha emphasized the importance of timely intervention, community support, and a rights-based approach when working with children and adolescents in vulnerable situations.

A significant part of the event also focused on exploring stronger collaboration between civil society organizations and Child Helpline 1098 for effective child protection and response mechanisms. Participants acknowledged the helpline as a crucial tool in addressing emergencies and reinforcing local-level child protection systems.

The orientation concluded with a renewed commitment from participating organizations to advocate for mental well-being as a key component in the fight against child, early, and forced marriage.