Mobile health clinics help tackle post-earthquake mental health problems in Nepal
As Nepal struggles to deal with the physical aftermath of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on 25 April, the country also has to deal with a rise in mental health disorders triggered by the disaster. Mobile mental health clinics are treating patients in and around Kathmandu and will shortly extend help to more remote affected districts.
Patients queue to be seen at a temporary clinic in an outlying district of Kathmandu. Health staff here see up to 500 patients a day, at least 10% of whom report mental health issues. Nepal is experiencing a rise in mental health problems in the wake of the devastating earthquake last month.
A mobile mental health team treats patients living in makeshift shelters in Chapagaun, 16 km south of Kathmandu. In addition to those with pre-existing mental disorders, people may develop new conditions after an emergency. With just one psychiatric hospital in the country, mobile teams allow mental health workers to reach those in need in Kathmandu and in more remote districts.
Since the earthquake, Nikesh Pahari (right) has been living in a tent with his parents and neighbours. The 12-year-old has refused to speak or eat and is afraid to go near his house. A psychiatric social worker from the mobile mental health team teaches him and another child a ‘balloon blowing’ breathing technique, which eventually coaxes a smile out of both children.
Dr Ananta Adhikari treats a patient for mental health issues related to alcohol. Misuse of alcohol is a serious problem in Nepal, where many farmers mistakenly believe it gives them energy to work in the fields. In the aftermath of the earthquake, it is expected that many patients will suffer withdrawal symptoms.
70-year-old Gayatri Chatse still feels as though the ground is moving. Since the earthquake she has suffered from back pain and headaches, which the doctor diagnoses as anxiety disorder. Emergencies may also trigger depressive and traumatic disorders as well as prolonged grief disorder, that can severely undermine a person’s daily functioning.
The World Health Organization estimates that 5% to 10% of people impacted by humanitarian emergencies will suffer from a mental health condition as a result. Together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Organization has launched a new practical guide to help non-specialist health workers better identify, assess and manage mental health needs in emergencies.