Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav has said that people with mental health issues are being stigmatized and thus leading to the problem.
At the 20th anniversary program of Centre for Mental Health and Counseling-Nepal on Monday, he said that the problem is becoming more sensitive due to the stereotype against people with mental health problems.
As the Constitution of Nepal establishes basic health as a fundamental right, the cooperation of the non-governmental sector is necessary in the government's plan to fulfill it.
Also speaking at the program, Deputy Speaker Indira Rana pointed out the need for the government and development partners to work together on an important sector like mental health.
"The government and the non-governmental sector should work together in the field of mental health. It is also important for the government to pay attention to the mental health of people living in prisons," she said.
Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Roshan Pokharel, said that the government will continue to prioritize mental health and stressed on implementation of the mental health strategy to spread awareness and remove misconceptions.
Technical Director of the Center, Dr Pashupati Mahat, said that the CMC was working together with the government in providing mental health services. The center has been working in the mental health sector since 2003 and has so far worked in 206 local levels in 51 districts of the country.
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