Breaking the Silence of Mental Illness in Nepal

In the quiet hills and villages of Nepal, many families continue to live silently with the realities of mental illness. Behind closed doors are sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and parents struggling with conditions that are often misunderstood, untreated, or hidden away because of fear and stigma. 

For many Gurkha families living in remote communities, accessing mental health care is incredibly difficult. Specialist services are far away, long-term treatment can be expensive, and awareness about mental illness remains limited. Families are often left to cope alone, carrying emotional, physical, and financial burdens that can last for decades. 

Through its welfare and medical programmes, GWT continues to support vulnerable veterans, widows, dependants, and families affected by mental illness across Nepal. Today, GWT supports 574 registered pensioners diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders, including 152 veterans. In the last ten months alone, 960 pensioners received medication linked to mental health treatment. 

Behind every number is a deeply personal story. 

One such story belongs to the son of a former Gurkha Rifleman who served with the 7th Gurkha Rifles during the 1950s. Like many Gurkha soldiers of that era, he served the British Army with loyalty and dedication before being made redundant on demobilisation and was sent back to Nepal without eligibility for a standard Army pension. 

Returning to his village, life was difficult. Employment opportunities were scarce, income was uncertain, and supporting a growing family in rural Nepal was a constant struggle. In later years, GWT stepped in to support the veteran and his family through a monthly pension, helping provide a measure of stability and dignity after years of hardship. 

Noticing the first signs of struggle

Everything changed when his son began showing signs of mental illness as a teenager. 

At first, the changes were small. He stopped sleeping properly. He became withdrawn and restless. He would speak to himself quietly and wander away from home without explanation. As time passed, his behaviour became more unpredictable and aggressive. His family did not understand what was happening, only that the cheerful young boy they once knew was slowly disappearing. 

Desperate for help, the family travelled across the border to India seeking psychiatric treatment. Later, they took him to hospitals in Dharan, Lalitpur, and Kathmandu. Each time he received treatment, there were signs of hope. He became calmer. He responded to medication. For brief moments, life seemed possible again. 

But maintaining long-term treatment in a remote village proved difficult. Medication stopped. Symptoms returned. The cycle repeated itself over and over again. 

As the illness worsened, fear slowly took hold of the household. There were moments of violence, confusion, and unpredictability. 

The challenges of daily care

His ageing father continued caring for him for as long as he could, despite his own declining health and financial hardship. After the veteran passed away in 2023, much of the responsibility for his son’s daily care fell to his brother and sister-in-law. 

They help him wash and eat, supervise his medication, watch over him day and night, and comfort him during difficult moments. Because he cannot safely be left alone, one of them needs to be at home with him, placing enormous financial pressure on the family.  

Their care is not only keeping him alive, it is also preserving his dignity. 

Restoring Dignity through Support

GWT’s welfare and medical teams continue to provide support. Through continuous follow-up, medical assessments, welfare coordination, and disability support, the family has now been able to access the assistance they desperately needed. GWT also helps with medical transportation and has provided bedding and home improvements to make his living conditions safer and more manageable. 

Most importantly, regular psychiatric treatment and continued support have brought positive changes. His aggressive behaviour has reduced, and the family now faces the future with greater understanding and hope. 

His story is a reminder that mental illness is not hopeless. With treatment, compassion, and support, lives can improve. Families can cope. Dignity can be restored. 

On World Mental Health Awareness Day, GWT honours not only those living with mental illness, but also the husbands, wives, parents, and caregivers who stand beside them every single day, often quietly, patiently, and without recognition. 

No family should have to face mental illness alone.