On August 3, 2024, Ucchai Community Learning Centre(उचाइ सामुदायिक सिकाइ केन्द्र) organized its first awareness program on “ Postpartum Depression and Suicide Prevention” for the members its women’s group in collaboration with Shrikharapur Community LearningCentre, Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, Nepal and Lagankhel Mental Hospital.
The program was organized under the coordination of Lalita Lamichhanne, Programme Coordinator of Shrikharapur Open School, and was graced by the presence of Hari Prasad Timilsina, Chairperson of Dakshinkali Municipality Ward No. 7.
It was a three-hour-long program facilitated by Sanskriti Ghimire Khatri, Anusuya Aryal, and Sony Lama, the social outreach team trained by TPO, Nepal, and Lagankhel Mental Hospital with 30 members of the women’s group attending it.
The session delved into a holistic understanding of suicide prevention, starting from the concept of mental health and postpartum depression. Many participants found it relevant and even shared their similar encounters. However, throughout the discussion confidentiality was maintained to ensure the event was a safe space for sharing. With fun ice-breakers and energizers, the facilitators lightened the atmosphere of the participants while also reinforcing the sensitive nature of the topics discussed, creating an open environment for the participants to withdraw and leave the session if the topic felt overwhelming to them at any point. In addition to this, stress reduction techniques such as 54321 activity and Progressive muscle relaxation were practisedpracticed.
However, the topics discussed in the session were quite well received by the audience as they were open and enthusiastic to learn about mental health and suicide prevention. The facilitators dove into discussions about the causes of symptoms of postpartum depression, the risk factors, and warning signs for suicide, while also addressing misconceptions about mental illnesses with discussion exploring the stigma. The attendees even expressed interest in learning more about psychosomatic disorders which was a topic that was only touched on towards the end of the workshop. Their increased understanding of suicide prevention was reflected through a final group activity where the participants came up with their collective safety plan applying all the knowledge about suicide and suicide prevention they had learned that day. The feedback and interaction from the audience were quite positive which accounted for the successful completion of the first awareness session of the Ucchai Community Learning Centre.
Event Report :
Sanskriti Ghimire Khatri (Intern at Shikharapur CLC)
St. Xavier’s College, BASW III Year