Bringing mental health care closer to children in Nepal

Too many children in Nepal face mental health challenges without support. A new initiative is changing that—through early intervention, prevention, and strong local ownership.

About the project

This project strengthens mental health care for children and adolescents in some of Nepal’s most remote and vulnerable regions. By moving services closer to where children live, it ensures earlier support and more effective prevention.

Working through schools, primary health care and local communities, the project equips teachers, health workers and caregivers to identify and support children in need. At the same time, children and young people gain tools to understand and manage their own mental health.

The approach follows a WHO-recommended model, sharing responsibility across specialist services, primary care and civil society to close critical gaps in access to care.

What the funding from the Kavli Trust will support

Funding from the Kavli Trust enables a scalable, community-based model with lasting impact. It will support:

• Training for teachers, health workers and caregivers
• Integration of mental health support in schools and local health services
• Low-threshold services such as helplines and outreach
• Preventive efforts addressing violence, neglect and trauma
• Capacity building and strengthening of local systems

The investment supports long-term impact, strong local anchoring and positive ripple effects across communities.

About the organization

FORUT is a Norwegian development organisation working to create safer childhoods. It partners with local organisations across multiple countries, focusing on children’s rights, mental health and sustainable development.

In Nepal, FORUT works with CWIN, a leading child rights organisation that has helped establish the country’s first child and adolescent mental health services and helplines.