/countries/nepal/amar-koirala-simh-camp3.tmb-1920v.jpg?sfvrsn=7b8c01f8_1 "WHO- 20220405- NPL-002")
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Amar Raj Koirala, 49
Farmer
Temkemaiyum Rural Municipality, Bhojpur, Nepal
My name is Amar Raj Koirala, though most people know me as Krishne – Krishna Koirala. I am about to turn 50 and am the eldest of four siblings. We lost our father when I was six, and my mother raised us single-handedly. So, seeing her health deteriorate has been extremely worrisome. She is very dear to me.
It all started around two and a half years ago. She began to get easily angered, grew restless, and refused to stay at home. Her arms and legs ached constantly, and she often complained of dizziness. She said it felt like something was blocking her breath. She lost her appetite. Even now, she doesn’t like to eat much.
There was one time when she walked all the way to my maternal uncle’s house – he’s a shaman – saying she wanted to be cleansed. I had to follow her and bring her back. We had no idea what she was going through.
We first tried spiritual healers and shamans. Like many in our village, we believed she might be under the influence of bad spirits. After the spiritual rituals, she would calm down, but I think that was just from exhaustion.
On top of that, I used to drink – I quit three or four years ago – and she would accuse me of wandering around drunk. For somebody who was usually quiet shy, it was shocking to hear her threaten to kill or attack anyone who came near her.
It was only after we consulted Ganesh sir that we began to understand that this was a mental health issue. After taking her to the health post, she began medication for psychosis last year. Things have improved a lot since then.
It’s been about a month and a half since she started improving, and she continues to take her medicine regularly. Seeing her calm and stable gives me a huge sense of relief.
Photo credit for all images: WHO Nepal/S.Shrestha