KOSHISH advocacy programs are focused on encouraging right holders, communities and lawmakers to take steps for review, adaptation and implementation of laws, policies, and programs that protect and promote human rights of persons with and who are at risk of mental health and psychosocial disabilities through increased awareness and advocacy.
Advocacy and Awareness
Capacity Building of People with Mental Health Problems and Psychosocial Issues for Self-advocacy
KOSHISH aim that people with mental health issues and psychosocial disability should come and speak up for their dignity and rights rather than other people speaking behalf of them.
Media Sensitization
Mass media is an important tool to make people including the government bodies informed and as well to make them accountable for what they do, to the people living with mental health condition and psychosocial disability.
Meaningful Participation
KOSHISH is a voice of people with mental health & psychosocial disability. We shall never compromise in our inheritance dignity, Meaningful Participation. We know that people learn by two ways: by learning & by experiencing.
Adoption and implementation of policies and program which are useful for people as according to their choice without compromising quality
Various standards have been endorsed at international and national levels for the promotion, protection and to ensure fundamental freedoms of rights of persons with disabilities.
Right based approach
KOSHISH follows rights-based approach where persons with mental health issues are right holders demanding with duty bearers (the state party). We want people with mental health issues as subjects and not as an object.
Legal Reform (Public Interest Litigation)
Law reform is the process of changing and updating laws so that they reflect the current values and needs of modern society. It is essential for protecting and promoting the rights of people who are most vulnerable and marginalized by society, like people with mental health conditions or with psychosocial disabilities.
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.
1.Inclussive Community Mental Health Program (ICMH Program)
Project Duration : 2019-2023
Coverage : Palungtar Municipality and Siranchowk Rural Municipality of Gorkha district, Besishahar Municipality and Marsyangdi Rural Municipality of Lamjung district.
Project Budget : ……….
Partner : CBM
Target Group : Direct Target group: The project is targeted to reach 13,000 people living with and who are at risk of mental health and psychosocial issues through the direct intervention. Indirect Target group: As, the total population of project area is 120,125, hence the indirect target group would be 20% of total population (i.e. 24,025).
Overall Objective : Improved quality of life of women, men, girls and boys living with and who are at risk of mental health and psychosocial disability in collaboration with Local Governments.
2. Mainstreaming of community mental health program in government health system
Project Duration : 2020-2023
Coverage : Tanahu District of Gandaki Province
Project Budget : ……….
Partner : CBM
Target Group : The project aims to reach 2,500 persons living with and/ or who are at risk of mental health conditions and psychosocial disability. This group will be directly reached and benefited from mental health and psychosocial support services.
Overall Objective : Improved access to quality mental health and psychosocial support services and quality of life of persons living with mental health condition and psychosocial disability
1. Community Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program
Project Duration : 2017-2018
Coverage : Earthquake affected (Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kavre and Sindhupalchok) districts
Project Budget : ……….
Partner : Malteser International (MI)
Target Group : ………
Overall Objective : ………………
2. Post Emergency ….. (PERIP)
Project Duration : 2017-2018
Coverage : Earthquake affected ………………………. districts
Project Budget : ……….
Partner : CBM
Target Group : ………
Overall Objective : ………………