Jaya Mental Health: Small Grants Programme

Jaya Mental Health is leading an ambitious effort to strengthen child and adolescent mental health care in Nepal by empowering the country’s newly established school nursing workforce. With Nepal investing in placing qualified nurses in schools, often the only health professionals available to children in remote communities, Jaya Mental Health launched a pilot project in Surkhet District to equip these nurses with the skills, confidence, and support they need to make a lasting impact.  

Working closely with local governments, schools, teachers, and over 35 school nurses, the project delivered a comprehensive package of training in communication, psychological first aid, mental health awareness and the identification and management of emotional and behavioural difficulties in children. Additional workshops engaged 500 teachers, helping to dismantle myths surrounding mental illness and promote a more supportive school culture.  

The pilot also introduced ongoing clinical supervision, an essential support system in a context where nurses often work in isolation with limited resources. Early results show nurses feel more confident, better equipped to assess children’s mental health needs and more capable of advocating for wellbeing within their schools. Children themselves report feeling safe and understood by school nurses, highlighting the crucial role these professionals play in their daily lives.  

The project’s findings underscore the need for stronger infrastructure, clearer job roles, and consistent nationwide training. Jaya Mental Health remains committed to partnering with local authorities to build a resilient, skilled school nursing workforce that can transform the future of mental health care for Nepal’s children.