Minister Pradeep Paudel inaugurates mental health unit at Kanti Children’s Hospital

Pradeep Paudel, Health and Population Minister inaugurated a new mental health unit dedicated to children and adolescents at Kanti Children’s Hospital. The 16-bed inner service unit aims to provide comprehensive mental health care, marking a significant step forward in addressing the mental health needs of young people in Nepal.

At the inauguration ceremony, Minister Paudel toured the facilities and received a briefing on the telemedicine services offered by the unit. This initiative follows the earlier launch of an adolescent mental health unit at Lagankhel Mental Hospital earlier this year. However, this is the first time a dedicated unit for children’s mental health care has been introduced.

The establishment of this unit is part of ongoing efforts to enhance mental health services in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake. Save the Children Nepal, in partnership with Fourfold Norway and supported by Kanti Children’s Hospital, initially set up Nepal’s first children’s and adolescents’ mental health unit within the hospital premises. In January 2021, a separate building was constructed to further these services, thanks to collaboration with Fourfold Norway and other partner organizations.

The formal launch of the inner service unit is expected to significantly improve access to mental health care for children, making treatment more accessible and efficient.