Psychosocial Counselling for Community Integration of Conflict Victims

Background: The Centre for Mental Health and Counseling-Nepal (CMC-Nepal) is conducting an implementation science research study to evaluate a four-year project titled “Psychosocial Counselling for Community Integration of Conflict Victims (PCCICV),” which began in 2021. The project was piloted in two districts and has since expanded to 13 municipalities across three provinces: Bagmati, Lumbini, and Karnali. The project encompasses training health workers and psychosocial counselors, community awareness programs, advocacy efforts, and policy-level integration for sustainable MHPSS services.

Problem: Local, provincial, and federal policymakers need to scale up the PCCICV intervention to other regions of Nepal and contribute to the national mental health strategy and policy development.

Questions: This study investigates the following research questions: (1) What is the acceptability, appropriateness, adoption, fidelity, feasibility, cost, penetration, and sustainability of CMC-Nepal’s community-based MHPSS intervention? (2) What are the experiences of conflict victims accessing MHPSS services? (3) What are the barriers and facilitators to implementing these services?

Design & Methods: The research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative surveys, record reviews, and observations with qualitative data collection through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and in-depth interviews. Data will be collected from MHPSS service users, service providers, community members, and policy-level stakeholders across the selected municipalities.