Maternal mental health screening at Thapathali hospital remains stalled for six months

Maternal mental health screening services at Nepal's Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali have been halted for six months. The suspension follows the expiration of the contract for the hospital's only psychiatrist, leaving pregnant women and new mothers without crucial mental health support.

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The woman was suffering from a severe form of postpartum depression.

This service interruption is particularly concerning as mental health issues, including postpartum depression, are identified as a significant contributor to maternal mortality in Nepal. A 2022 report indicated that self-harm, often linked to mental health struggles, accounts for six percent of maternal deaths. Postpartum depression, characterized by intense sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion, can severely impact a mother's ability to care for herself and her newborn.

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Mental health screening service remains suspended for the past six months.

The screening service was initiated about 18 months ago with the hiring of a psychiatrist on a contract basis, supported by the World Health Organization. The hospital director, Dr. Shree Prasad Adhikari, confirmed the service remains suspended not due to a lack of necessity, but because the doctor's contract ended. Dr. Pratikshya Ghimire, the psychiatrist who previously treated patients, shared a success story of a woman with severe postpartum depression who recovered well with treatment at the hospital.

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The service has stopped at our hospital not because it is unnecessary but because the doctor's contract has ended.

Mental health experts emphasize the unfortunate nature of this suspension. Dr. Basudev Karki, a consultant psychiatrist at Nepal Mental Hospital, stated that such a halt hinders efforts to reduce maternal deaths and mental health problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Prenatal and postnatal depression can manifest at various stages, causing significant distress for many women.

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Mental health issues, including postpartum depression, are among the leading causes of maternal deaths in Nepal that kill scores of women every year.