16th April 2025, Kathmandu.
A stakeholders’ meeting on Child and Adolescent Mental Health was held, which was organised by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services, with support from UNICEF, and co-organised by CWIN Nepal, CMC Nepal, and TPO Nepal.
Participants emphasised the importance of sharing achievements and best practices across organisations, while also voicing concern about the lack of adequate research in this vital area.
CWIN Nepal shared its ongoing efforts and experiences in enhancing mental health among children and adolescents, while TPO Nepal presented insights on implementing the Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) Tool in Karnali Province.
Mental health issues often start before the age of 14, and since many of these challenges are biological, both prevention and treatment are essential. The participants, therefore, highlighted the need to share best practices and success stories among the stakeholders for the integrated efforts in the Children and Adolescent Mental Health sector.

It was noted that mental health problems in children and adolescents often appear before the age of 14, and since many of these issues are biological, both prevention and medical treatment are necessary. Although several programs have been implemented in Nepal to address child mental health, the outcomes of these programs have not been sufficiently studied, which was a point of discussion during the event. Participants also expressed that good practices and achievements in certain areas should be institutionalised by the government.

The program, led by Director General Dr. Tanka Prasad Barakoti, provided insights into the current state of child and adolescent mental health in Nepal, particularly in Karnali Province, and reiterated the need for more comprehensive studies and research in this field.