Reshmi Khatun, Service User

“For about two months, I didn’t feel interested in doing anything. My mood changed quickly, and I didn’t want to talk to anyone or go anywhere. I lost interest in eating, felt weak all the time, and got tired very easily. My heartbeat was fast, and I felt like something was seriously wrong. I didn’t even feel a connection with my three-year-old child. At that time, I didn’t understand what was happening to me.


The doctor spoke to me kindly and listened to my story with patience. It was the first time in a long while that someone truly listened to me.


With their care and my family’s support, I recovered very quickly. After several weeks, I started feeling like myself again and was able to return to my regular life.”

LY Narin, University Student and Service User

“I used to be the loud and happy one, the one who joked around and sang in class. But then I became someone who just couldn’t wait to go home. Whenever my mind brought me back to the past, I felt like crying. I couldn’t stop the feeling.


What made me finally seek support was the thought that I wanted to be better. I wanted to be my old self again. When I saw myself falling apart, I felt sorry for her. 


At first, I was scared to meet the mental health counsellor. But after a few sessions, I started to understand what I was going through. I remembered who I used to be. 


If there’s one thing that I could tell others who are struggling, it’s this: the sooner you talk it out, the sooner you’ll start to recover. You’ll find yourself again. And when you do, the people around you will feel better too. “

Dr KEO Tampa, Psychiatrist, Child and Adolescent Unit, Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital 

“I’ve been working as a psychiatrist in the child and adolescent unit in this hospital for the past two years. I’ve seen how much a child’s mental health can affect every part of their life especially their education. There’s one girl I remember clearly with trichotillomania, a hair pulling disorder. She pulled out her hair, body hair and even her eyebrows when she was anxious. When I first met her, she didn’t utter a single word. The second time I saw her, she said one word: ‘Yes.’ Just that one word made me so happy.


In the sessions that followed, she slowly began to open up. The last time I saw her, I noticed her little eyebrows were starting to grow back—very short. But it filled my heart. She’s also gone back to school. That’s what matters to me.”

Martha Coffie

“Mental health to me is not the absence of a mental health illness but my ability to go about and cope with my daily activities without any interruptions, which has afforded me the ability to go about my work as the advocate I am today.


As a person with the lived experience of a psychosocial disability, I received training on assertiveness on individual rights and how to speak to my own rights as a person with mental illness. I was empowered to advocate for the rights of others like me. These skills that I have acquired have built my confidence and made me stronger in my work as a mental health advocate.”

Fouad Qua’dan, 28, Social media expert

“I believe mental health is just as important as physical health and that psychological distress affects the entire body.


Today, I encourage anyone who is struggling or going through a difficult time to open their heart, speak up, and seek help without fear or shame, because the first step is the beginning of real hope."

Malak Nowfal,  Housewife and Carer

“My name is Malaak, I’m 28 years old, and I’m the wife of Fouad. This story isn’t just about marriage it’s about companionship, empathy, and the quiet strength it takes to support someone living with a mental health condition.


The Special Initiative for Mental Health played a significant role in both of our journeys. It wasn’t just about helping those with mental health conditions it was also about helping the people who support them. It felt like, finally, there was a space in society for us, where we weren’t alone in this journey. I began to feel seen and empowered, and more importantly, so did Fouad. Mental illness is often misunderstood as something to fear. But I’ve come to believe, and I wish more people would, that mental health matters just as much as physical health. No one should be ashamed of needing help. “

Tirtha Bahadur Shahi, Mason/Farmer  

“Everything changed for me around August last year, after the landslides and floods hit nearby areas. That night, I was sleeping when suddenly my heart started pounding — thump, thump, thump. I woke up in a panic, and all I could think about were the people who had died. A strange, terrifying thought entered my mind, and I couldn’t shake it off.


From that night on, I became restless. The fear kept coming back. I felt like I was losing my mind. I always wanted someone beside me. I was scared I might die suddenly. Watching the news made it worse. I’d imagine our house being swept away. I’d picture how people died. My heart would race, and I would feel like I was next. It got to a point where I had to ask my wife to hide the sharp tools in the house. I was afraid I might hurt someone or myself. I couldn’t sleep at all.


I’d say I am 99% better now. I do get a little anxious when I am under stress. Sometimes I do think what would have happened to me had I not sought treatment or received the care that I needed. Maybe I would have wandered off somewhere, got lost, or even worse. Thanks to my wife, family and the services I received at the local health post, I am doing much better.”

Clara Miranda, Residente de Hogar Substituto, Asuncion  

“A while ago, I came here after spending time in various places, including a psychiatric hospital. Today, I am very happy in this home. Since I arrived, many aspects of my life have improved. Here, I am well. I feel supported and looked after. This place is my home, and the people I live with are my family.”

Dr Aimee Gayomali, Non-Communicable Diseases Cluster Head, Center for Health Development Western Visayas Region,  Department of Health, Philippines 

“What keeps me going is knowing that this work matters. It’s not just about policies and programs — it’s about people. It’s about helping someone feel heard after years of isolation. It’s about giving families hope. And it’s about building a future where no one feels ashamed to ask for help. The impact may not always be immediate or visible — but the seeds we’re planting now will shape a more compassionate and inclusive society for the next generation.”

Matvii Dariichuk, Lecturer at the Department of Psychology and Philosophy, psychologist-counsellor at the Medical and Psychological Centre, Bukovinian State Medical University (Chernivtsi) 

“We have a Medical and Psychological Centre at the university, where we provide free consultations to students, lecturers, and relatives of lecturers. Students come to us with various problems. For example, Sixth-year students may experience high levels of anxiety and stress due to exams and writing their master's thesis. They may also face a crisis of professional identity: Did I choose the right specialisation? Is medicine really my thing or not? What did I spend six years of my life on?


I completed training under the WHO mhGAP program, and every time I returned from training, I felt a strong desire to share the knowledge I had gained with my students.”

Oscar Molina, patient at the La Posta Norte Community-Based Mental Health Center in Rosario

“After being diagnosed with refractory epilepsy as a child and with both parents facing mental health issues, I was raised by my grandmother. throughout childhood. Following her death, I experienced a mental health crisis that led to multiple hospitalizations. I was unwell and here [at La Posta Mental Health Center] they welcomed me with open arms. They are good people, they treat us well and help us with everything. I’m very happy because of that,”.