The government run Mental Hospital at Lagankhel, Kathmandu, Nepal, was established in 1983. It is the only hospital for the mentally ill in this country of 23 million people. The hospital has sixty-four staff who give care to 15,000 patients annually. It has twenty-nine beds and provides free of cost care to patients requiring hospitalisation. It offers treatment for less than five cents to out-patients considering the extreme poverty of many of those who come to request help. The hospital distributes medication free of cost.

People suffering mental illness, particularly those requiring hospitalisation, often face severe discrimination, depression, and other serious problems. Spiny Babbler attempts to use the arts in ways that make direct impact on their lives. It particularly works to encourage those with mental illness to share and communication through the arts and it also tries to give them an outlet and activities that boosts self-confidence and image.

The Mental Hospital works under the Ministry of Health. For further information, write to mhospital@healthnet.org.np