CBM Australia supported the Karnali Mental Health Project (KMHP), a three-year initiative implemented by the Centre for Mental Health and Counselling (CMC) Nepal to improve access to community-based mental health and psychosocial support services across selected municipalities in Karnali Province. Recognising that sustainable change required more than service delivery alone, the project combined mental health service provision, systems strengthening, advocacy, and meaningful participation to increase government commitment to community mental health.
Working in partnership with local governments, health facilities, Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs), and community groups, the project supported 55 health facilities to provide mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) and delivered MHPSS services to 6,280 people. It also contributed to the adoption of mental health policies in 10 municipalities, integration of mental health into annual plans and budgets in 13 municipalities, and increased provincial and municipal investment in community mental health. Through Mental Health Self-Help Groups and advocacy initiatives, people with mental health conditions became more actively involved in planning, advocacy, and decision-making processes. This report presents the key findings from the end-of-project evaluation and explores how strategic advocacy helped shift community mental health from a project activity to a local government priority.