Psychosocial Counselling Services Amidst the Pandemic

07 Jul 2021

The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has wreaked havoc worldwide, is taking a toll on people’s mental health with increased levels of clinical depression being identified, various studies have suggested.   

While fear, social isolation, economic despair compounded by the Covid-19 and ensuing lockdown have significantly exacerbated the mental health problems among people, compliance with restrictive measures on physical and social contact have hindered people from seeking traditional face-to-face psychological services.  

Thus, to respond to the urgent need for mental health support amid the pandemic, psychosocial counsellors at WOREC have been carrying out psychological interventions for people with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder through telephone-based psychosocial counselling.  

Telephonic psychosocial counselling sessions and follow-ups are being carried out through two hotlines (i.e., 16600178910/16602152000) operated by WOREC and through psychosocial counsellors in the working districts. 

“Supporting the mental health of young people and ensuring they can access the support they need is vital to ensure their overall wellbeing and psychosocial counselling through telephone has turned out to be an effective way to reach out to them during this pandemic,” said Kamala Khadka, a psychosocial counsellor at WOREC, Udayapur district office.  

Khadka said that WOREC in coordination with Udayapur Rapid Response Team has also been providing telephonic psychosocial counselling to the Covid-19 positive patients who are in home isolation in Udayapur district. “During this period of prohibitory order, we have already provided psychosocial counselling via telephone to 132 patients who were tested positive,” said Khadka. 

Apart from this, WOREC has also been providing both in-person and telephonic psychosocial counselling to GBV survivors. The cases for the psychosocial counselling have also been referred to WOREC by local government, Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), CBOs, judicial committee, Police, Mediation Committee and health post.  

According to the data on psychosocial counselling services provided by WOREC from 29 April-29 June 2021, WOREC has provided psychosocial counselling to 749 people.