Total Counseled: 49 (Male: 25 | Female: 24)
Reporting Period: [Shrawan 2081 to Ashadh 2082]
Heart-Mind Consultancy (HMC) provided psychological counseling services to 49 individuals during the reporting period. Of the total clients, 51% (25) were male and 49% (24) were female, showing a near balance in gender representation and suggesting that both men and women are becoming increasingly open to seeking mental health support.
In terms of caste representation, the majority of clients were from the Brahmin/Chhetri community, accounting for 63.2% (31 individuals), followed by Janajati at 24.5% (12 individuals), Dalit at 8.2% (4 individuals), and Others at 4.1% (2 individuals). While Brahmin/chhetri formed the largest group, Janajati were found to have received more counseling sessions on average than other groups, indicating a deeper engagement or more complex mental health needs.
Age-wise, 20.4% (10 individuals) were below 18 years, 69.4% (34 individuals) were between 19–40 years, and 10.2% (5 individuals) were above 40. The predominance of young adults reflects their increased vulnerability to psychosocial stressors such as relationships, academic pressure, over burden etc.
Education-level data shows that 30.6% were below SEE level, 8.2% had completed SEE, 38.8% held a Bachelor’s degree, and 20.4% had a Master’s degree. Only a client was uneducated. This suggests that individuals with higher educational backgrounds are more likely to seek professional counseling, possibly due to greater mental health awareness and reduced stigma.
The main issues reported by clients were diverse and complex. Key problems included childhood sexual harassment and abuse, romantic relationship difficulties, over-ambition and constant overthinking, trauma from the COVID-19 pandemic, family conflict, extramarital affairs, and overwhelming workload. Other common concerns included failure of test-tube baby procedures, early marriage and childhood trauma, academic failure compounded by the death of a parent, poor parental care, retirement stress, infertility, exam fear, and grief from the sudden death of a loved one.
Most clients received three to four counseling sessions, allowing for short-term psychosocial support and brief intervention. Notably, 22 clients (44.9%) reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, signaling a significant risk factor within the client population and the need for targeted suicide prevention efforts.
The counseling data from Heart-Mind Consultancy reflects several emerging mental health trends in the community. The large proportion of young adult clients suggests the necessity for age-specific support strategies, particularly in areas like academic stress, romantic relationships, and career anxiety. The higher number of sessions received by Janajati clients may indicate more complex or long-standing issues, but it also reflects positive engagement when services are accessible and inclusive. More than 80 % individuals were self-approached for counseling. The high rate of suicidal ideation (nearly 45%) is alarming and highlights the urgency of crisis intervention services, trained counselors, and a reliable referral mechanism. While the counseling center is succeeding in reaching educated populations, the underrepresentation of Dalit and uneducated clients points to a persisting access gap and calls for stronger outreach and community-based awareness programs.
Overall, HMC is making significant contributions to mental health care in Pokhara. However, expanding its services to marginalized groups, improving follow-up mechanisms, and integrating culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approaches will be crucial for addressing the growing psychosocial needs of the region.
by : Sudip Ghimire
Director of MHC
