João Marçal-Grilo, Jaya Mental Health

We’ve been working with the largest mental health hospital in Nepal to support nursing staff.

We, as nurses, have huge responsibility because we often see people in their own environments at their most vulnerable. Being that close to people is a great responsibility but also a great privilege. In many ways that closeness gives us the chance to truly change lives.

Thanks to help from the Burdett Trust for Nursing, we were able to introduce a training programme focused on reducing the stigma around mental illness.

We also helped to start the first nursing mentorship programme in the country. This has changed how nurses see themselves and their role. Nurses are now much happier and more confident in their work.

It has been exciting to see change not only inside the hospital, but also in the wider community. Community mental health services are now growing, reaching people in very remote areas who still need care and support just like anyone else.

In many parts of South Asia, nurses are not always given the chance to lead, to speak up or to take part in decisions that affect their work. We are now seeing doors slowly opening. More people are beginning to listen to nurses and allow them to take part in leading change. That’s a big step forward.

We now have a new project where nurses from Nepal will share their experience of setting up community mental health services with nurses in Western Kenya.

We are very excited about this. We look forward to the next steps and to building new relationships and friendships in the years ahead.