Help 100 women suffering from violence in Nepal

Introduction

This campaign has been initiated by KOSHISH with the aim to provide Mental Health and Psycho-social Support (MHPSS) to the women and girls who experienced violence and developed mental health and psychosocial issues (MHPSI). This campaign supports the women experiencing MHPSI to lead a dignified and quality life and being included in the community on an equal basis as others.

KOSHISH has been providing immediate support to the women with severe MHPSI after conducting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. In three months period (July-September), KOSHISH has been able to provide psychosocial support to 10 women with mental health and psycho-social issues. Among them, 4 have been reintegrated in their own families and communities. Those women were able to get recovery through your generous support raised via The GlobalGiving.

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of many people especially women as they are more exposed to violence than the normal scenario and are deprived from the proper mental health treatment. It has been challenging for KOSHISH to provide mental health and psychosocial support to the women in need realizing the risk associated with it to the in-house beneficiaries. There is an immediate requirement of Quarantine house to accommodate the new beneficiaries for 14 days before their intake in the main facilities to reduce the risk of transmission of infection. It has been necessity in the present context and KOSHISH has been exploring fund for the purpose.

Success Story

Healing from wounds in the heart

35 years old Muna (pseudonym) from Ramechhap was brought into Transit Care Center during the Lockdown. She is a survivor of domestic violence. Her husband used to get drunk and torture her physically and mentally. She became unable to cope with the emotional and physical abuse and left her home leaving her two daughters behind. She was five months pregnant by then. She started living on streets without proper food and one day she fell on the road which affected her pregnancy. She was brought for treatment at Dhulikhel Hospital with the assistance of social workers from an organization but by then it was too late to save the child.

The continuous torture and abuse from the early days of marriage and loss of her unborn child impacted her mental health. She needed immediate treatment and was referred to KOSHISH Transit Care Center by the hospital. She was then admitted to KOSHISH Transit Care Center. With the psychiatric consultation and psycho-social support in Transit home, her mental health condition improved. She liked to get engaged in therapeutic activities and even helped staffs in the kitchen. She remembered her two daughters a lot and said, “My heart is getting stronger each day and I will work hard for the sake of my children’s future”.

With the aim of supporting the women and girls who experienced violence and developed mental health and psychosocial issues, this campaign was initiated by KOSHISH. This campaign supports to lead the quality life of those women and girls and being included in the community on an equal basis as others.

The transit care service of KOSHISH has been in operation for the emergency psychosocial care and treatment of the abandoned women and girls who underwent through the violence and living with mental health issues. Your generous support has contributed in the recovery of those women. During past three months of period, KOSHISH has been able to provide psychosocial support to 7 women with mental health and psycho-social issues. As for now, the country is in lockdown state because of COVID-19, however for those who require immediate support and are in severe mental health state has been received after conducting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Among them, 3 has been reintegrated back in their own home after recovery. KOSHISH has received many calls from the communities and many women living with mental health issues are in waiting list for the services.

COVID-19 has also impacted the lives of people in Nepal. KOSHISH has been providing tele-counseling support to the persons who are in need from it's existing Psychologists via toll-free number. So far, we have provided tele-counseling and followup services to 746 people in different parts of the country.

Increase in Mental health problems due to GBV during COVID-19 and Lockdown

"Once I was physically and mentally abused by my husband and in-laws for being unable to give birth to a son. I struggled with mental health problems for many years which added more hatred and isolation in my life. But now I am living happy life with my daughters and my husband and in-laws' attitude towards me have changed. They support me and help me to take care of my daughters." - Ramila (Beneficiary of KOSHISH)

She is one of the many women who experienced mental health problems because of constant torture, abuse, and violence from their own family members. As on today, she have no issues and is leading a contended life but there are many women in our country who are still going through these kinds of social problems, who are shut down or locked with all the sufferings. GBV is one of the major issues in Nepalese society. More than 52% of beneficiaries who received psychosocial support from KOSHISH; experienced mental health problems because of GBV. During this COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown situation, there has been an increment in number of GBV cases as the women are forced to live confined within the four walls away from any support system. This has ultimately increased the ratio of women experiencing psychosocial problems.