WHO WE ARE
KOSHISH is a nongovernmental organization, as a national self-help organization it is working in the field of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in Nepal.
The word “KOSHISH” means “making an effort”. Koshish is affiliated with, Social Welfare Council under Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (Affiliation No. 25676) and registered in District Administration Office, Kathmandu (Registration No. 086/065) in 2008. Since 2008, advocacy for inclusion and dignity of persons with and who are at risk of mental health conditions and psychosocial disability has been at the forefront of KOSHISH’s goals.
KOSHISH promotes and advocate for independent living, inclusion and meaningful participation of persons with lived experiences of mental health conditions and psychosocial disability through strategic advocacy and community based mental health and psychosocial support services inline with UNCRPD, 2006 at its core.
WHAT WE DO
01.
Mental & Psychosocial well being
We promote psychosocial wellbeing which is directly linked with individual minds in interaction with society, working towards barrier and social stigma are very much crucial.
02.
Mental Health services in international standards
03.
— We Strengthen
04.
Mental Health beyond the health
Community Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programs (CMHPSS)
KOSHISH has been working in a bottom up approach for mental health and psychosocial support, by supplying programs from basic services and security all the way up to specialized services. The organization is providing mental health and psychosocial support to people at all levels of intervention with services and assistance.
With the objective of increasing access of psychosocial support services through mainstreaming mental health and psychosocial service in the government health system, KOSHISH has been implementing Community Menal Helath and Psychosocial Support programs in the Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces in close coordination with local government, civil society and general people. These programs are intended to support the development of a sense of ownership by the community and government agencies that provide sustainability to the program.
What we do in a community?
Our approach focuses on mainstreaming mental health and psychosocial issues in government, non-government organizations and interested stakeholders to view psychosocial issues as a topic of extreme importance. To accomplish this we conduct meetings, as well as advocate for the implementation of new laws and policies that are more in line with human rights as well the UNCRPD. In addition to the government we work to sensitize people at the community level to reduce stigma, false beliefs and misconceptions regarding mental health and psychosocial issues.
Our approach focuses on contributing to make community based psychosocial support systems more accessible to persons experiencing psychosocial issues, their families, and community members. This will both include services as well as informative programs being available at the community level. Furthermore at the community level we develop and promote referral mechanisms for persons with psychosocial issues, to properly refer them to services that can assist them in rehabilitation and reintegration.
We supply support with the initiation and development of:
- Support groups
- Peer support groups
- School programs
- Livelihood and income generation programs
Our approach is to develop non-specialized support systems at the community level that can be accessed by persons experiencing psychosocial issues or their family members. To do this we first set out to identify and mobilize non-specialized service providers in the community, and supply them with training on: How to properly identify mental health issues; how to refer them to proper service providers; How to sensitize and promote information regarding mental health and psychosocial issues at the community level.
Our approach is to provide access and referral to specialized psychiatric and psychological services to persons experiencing severe psychosocial issues, and to assist them in their rehabilitation and reintegration. This can either be done by placing psychiatric Out Patient Department, referring them to higher psychiatric facilities or by providing rehabilitation services through our Transit Care Service . After rehabilitation we work to reintegrate them back into their community by initiating programs at the community level to help sensitize people on how to properly support people with psychosocial disabilities.