Education Global Senate (EGS) has stepped forward with a powerful commitment to fund a mental health awareness project in Bajhang. Dedicated team member of EGS –Sarana Parajuli has actively collaborated with Dr. Sanjay Yadav from Nepal Institute of Mental Health (NIOMH) organization to ensure meaningful and necessary support. Additionally, Dr. Bishnu Joshi, another committed member of EGS, has played a vital role in bringing this initiative to life.
At the heart of this initiative stands a story that moves us beyond words.
This program is being led by a teacher Purna Malla, a father who carries both profound grief and extraordinary strength. After losing his daughter to suicide, he faced a pain no parent should ever endure. He could have chosen silence. He could have allowed sorrow to consume him. Instead, he chose courage.
In the midst of heartbreak, he built resilience. In the face of unimaginable loss, he found purpose. He transformed his personal tragedy into a mission to protect other families from experiencing the same pain. Together with village team members (Gagan Agari and Bhumiraj Pithatoli), he now leads mental health awareness efforts in Bajhang.
Education Global Senate had a meeting with Bajhang team on January 18,2026 to get an update on the progress of the project.
During the meeting, Purna Sir shared his experience of delivering mental health awareness presentations in nine schools in Bajhang. He mentioned that the program included an explanation of stress and how it builds up, impacting a person’s mental health. He emphasized that people often fear being looked down upon by society if they express themselves on mental health topics.
Gagan Sir presented slides from the program and highlighted the positive impact of the awareness sessions. He commended Purna Sir’s creative way of presenting the theme in the form of a ghazal, which was highly impressive.
Bajhang Ga.Wi.Sa. (Village Development Committee) collaborated with Purna Sir and Gagan Sir during this project.
The first phase of implementation has been a huge success, with enthusiastic participation from students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. Both Purna Sir and Gagan Sir mentioned that, in the future, the program should be extended for more than one day.
Dr. Sanjay Yadav provided his input regarding program extension as follows:
Possibilities for the future:
- Include interactive sessions among small groups of students (approximately 30 students per session).
- Develop interactive session content with questions relevant to students and the current school context.
- Enable small groups of students from Purna Sir’s school to attend mental health awareness Zoom sessions with professional counselors.
- Train teachers through Zoom-based sessions.
- Conduct geographical mapping.
Dr. Bishnu Joshi suggested the possibility of representatives from the Village Development Committee joining Zoom meetings along with Purna Sir, Gagan Sir, and Dr. Sanjay Yadav for further guidance. He also suggested developing an academic calendar for all schools that includes a dedicated mental health week.
Immediate possible action:
Develop interactive content to be included in the current existing model.
Education Global Senate honors not just an initiative, but a movement born from compassion, courage, and resilience. EGS believes to spark hope in communities that have long lacked access to mental health support.
Moments of Hope: Mental Health Awareness in Action
educationglobalsenate.org 
