Seventh grader in Baitadi struggles as parents battle mental illness

By Lokraj  Bhatta,Baitadi, Mar. 9: A seven grader in Baitadi district has been left in a difficult situation as his parents, both suffering from mental health problems, are unable to provide food or medical care.

Kaya Chand of Melouli Municipality-9 and her husband Jay Bahadur Chand have been struggling with mental health issues for the past 10 years. Both of them are also partially physically disabled. 

Their son, Tasbir Chand, who studies in Grade 7, has gone to Bardiya to seek shelter at the house of his uncle, who lives on public land.

The couple’s house is also in poor condition. Although the ward office provided zinc sheets worth Rs. 50,000 to repair the roof, the materials remain unused as there are no relatives to help fix the roof.

Lok Raj Bhatta, ward chairperson of Melouli Municipality-9, said the ward office provided the zinc sheets last year after seeing the family’s poor condition. When he visited the house for monitoring, only the woman was present. Her husband, Jay Bahadur Chand, had gone to a relative’s house due to illness.

During the visit, the woman told the ward chair that there was no food at home and that her son studying in Grade 7 had gone to Bardiya to stay with his uncle.

Bhatta said the woman also lacks relatives who could take her to a hospital for treatment. Although mental health problems can be treated, she requested the ward office to help arrange the documents needed to receive a social allowance so that she could manage food.

At Baitadi District Hospital, more than 200 people are currently taking medication after receiving treatment for mental health problems. However, Kaya Chand of Bishalpur village, located around 70 kilometres from the district hospital, has been unable to access treatment.

Harish Panta, information officer at Baitadi District Hospital, said that many people with mental health problems have recovered after taking regular medication based on specialist advice.