Nepal, Jan. 2 -- For most of Nepal's history, mental health was pushed to the quiet corner. People experienced worry, sadness, fear and confusion, but there were few words to describe these emotions. What we now recognise as anxiety, depression, trauma or psychosis was often spoken of simply as mann ko samasya (an ailment of the heart or mind). Emotional suffering was interpreted through spiritual imbalance, karma or misfortune rather than as a health condition that could be understood and treated. This silence shaped the lives of generations.

Long before psychology entered our classrooms and clinics, communities turned to traditional healers. Families sought help from dhami and jhankris and pinned their hopes on rituals and prayers when...