Nepal

Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO)/ITC-Nepal

TPO Nepal is one of Nepal’s leading psychosocial organizations. It was established in 2005 in collaboration with ITC and the CBI program, with the aim of promoting psychosocial well-being and mental health of children and families in conflict affected and other vulnerable communities.  TPO Nepal is a knowledge-driven, innovative organization working in areas disrupted by violence and poverty.  We strive to develop local psychosocial, mental health and conflict resolution capacity and systems that promote community resilience, quality of life and self-reliance through education, research, service delivery and advocacy.

Vision We envision conflict-resolved, resilient communities where local populations have adequate access to multi-dimensional mental health and psychosocial care systems.

Mission We promote psychosocial well-being and mental health of children and families in conflict affected and other vulnerable communities, through development of sustainable, culturally-appropriate, community-based psychosocial support systems.

TPO Nepal Team. TPO Nepal has 40 professional staff members. Current projects are:

1. Program  for Improving Mental health carE (PRIME):

PRIME is a research program consortium for integration of mental health in primary health care. The aim of PRIME is to generate world-class research evidence on the implementation and scaling up of treatment programs for priority mental disorders in primary and maternal health care contexts in low resource settings. This will be achieved by developing and evaluating feasible models for integrating mental health into primary health care (PHC); by generating knowledge on how these services can be most effectively scaled up through district and national plans; and by assessing their impact. PRIME will be implemented in selected communities in five countries: Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa and Uganda. PRIME is funded by the DFID and international consortium of partner institution led by the University of Cape Town.

2. Psychosocial Support to Bhutanese Refugees: TPO Nepal has been implementing “Psychosocial Support to Bhutanese Refugees in Camps” project since July 2008 together with UNHCR’s other implementing partners. The overall objectives of the psychosocial support program is to improve psychosocial well-being (reduce psychosocial distress) among the Bhutanese refugee population; promote community resilience and capacity to address psychosocial problems; establish camp and community-based structures and systems of psychosocial care; increase understanding of the psychosocial and mental health status of refugees in the camp, and the level of, and indicators for, social cohesion within the camps, to inform and adapt the psychosocial care package as needed.

3. Psychosocial Support to Urban Refugees: TPO has also started psychosocial support to urban refugees (especially Pakistani and Somali) from January 2010.

4. Psychosocial Support to Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG) and Verified Minors and Late Recruits (VMLRs):  The overall objective of the project is to facilitate to the social reintegration of the discharges through the promotion of life skills, community based peace building and reconciliation activities.

5. Psychosocial Support to Women and Children Working in Entertainment Sector: The “Naya Bato Naya Paila” is a large project supported my US department of labour. The overall objectives of the psychosocial component of the project is to provide technical, clinical and emotional support to the counselors in order to strengthen their capacity and encourage them to keep developing themselves on a professional and personal level.

6. Psychosocial Support for Victims of Sexual Violence during the Conflict: To promote psychosocial well-being of vulnerable girls, women and families, by reducing psychosocial distress resulting from the experience of sexual violence.

7. Combating Trafficking in Persons: TPO Nepal is the lead psychosocial partner in this comprehensive five year project of The Asia Foundation to prevent trafficking, protect trafficking survivors and prosecute traffickers in 6 highly affected districts of Nepal by providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MOWCSW).

8. Psychosocial Support for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS: TPO Nepal implemented the first psychosocial support project for children affected by HIV/AIDS and their families. A comprehensive community psychosocial support program was developed, comprising of three layers of support from basic psychosocial orientation to specialized care for severe cases.