Nagendra P Luitel
Biographic Data
| ID | 214842 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Nagendra P Luitel |
| GIVEN NAMES | Nagendra P |
| FAMILY NAME | Luitel |
| SIGNATURE | LUITEL N P |
| AFFILIATIONS | NLR Nepal |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8291-0205 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 46 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 36 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 46 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Adolescent advisory groups in the Alive study
An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Sports-based mental health promotion for adolescents in rural Nepal
Adolescent mental health disorders are a leading contributor to the global burden of disease, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to care is limited. Sport offers a promising platform for mental health promotion, but evidence from rigorous evaluations in these settings is lacking. In Nepal we tested the feasibility of a mental health promotion intervention comprising football, dance and martial arts coaching and communit…
“A chance to open my heart”
Labor migration is prevalent in Nepal, however, the psychosocial impacts on left-behind families remain underexplored. This study aims to address this gap by examining the lived experiences, coping mechanisms, and social dynamics of left-behind family members in Chitwan District, Nepal. This qualitative study employed a modified phenomenological approach, incorporating in-depth interviews (n = 18) and two focus groups (n = 11) with left-behind fa…
Breaking down barriers
Despite global initiatives like WHO’s mhGAP, mental health treatment gaps remain substantial, especially in LMICs. Barriers are often presented collectively, with an emphasis on supply-side solutions, while demand-side factors are frequently overlooked. Distinguishing these barriers and implementing tailored strategies is critical for improving access and utilization. This study explores stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences of demand- and su…
Health Action in ScHools for a Thriving Adolescent Generation (HASHTAG)
Schools play a crucial role in supporting adolescent mental health, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where young people face structural and societal challenges. This study explores the feasibility and acceptability of the Health Action in Schools for a Thriving Adolescent Generation (HASHTAG), a multilevel intervention for at-risk adolescents aged 13–14 in South Africa. HASHTAG includes two components: thriving environment …
Thinking local, thinking healthy
Background: The thinking healthy program (THP) is an evidence-based psychological intervention for perinatal depression designed for delivery by nonspecialist health workers. To ensure its relevance in Nepal, we adapted THP using the mental health Cultural Adaptation and Contextualization for Implementation (mhCACI) framework. Methods: Using mhCACI’s 10-step process, we applied a participatory approach involving a multidisciplinary team to adapt …
Treatment of depression by traditional faith healers in Nepal
This study explored the assessment and treatment practices of traditional faith healers for patients with depression, as well as their beliefs about the causes of depression, in Nepal. In-depth interviews were conducted using a narrative approach to allow participants to share their experiences and perspectives through storytelling. A vignette depicting a woman with depression symptoms was used to investigate traditional faith healers' beliefs ab…
How can sport promote adolescent mental health? A qualitative study from the rural plains of Nepal
Sport holds potential to deliver adolescent mental health promotion, which is particularly important in low resource settings where there is high burden but lack of access to specialist services. We conducted a qualitative study in rural plains Nepal to describe adolescent stressors and coping strategies and analyse the mechanisms through which sport may promote or undermine mental health. We collected data from 81 adolescents, caregivers, teache…
Feasibility and acceptability of community-based psychosocial interventions delivered by nonspecialists for perinatal common mental disorders
Task sharing is endorsed as one of the strategies to address the treatment gap in common perinatal mental health conditions. There is a well-established body of evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions delivered by nonspecialist health workers (NSHWs); however, there is a dearth of evidence documenting factors determining the feasibility, acceptability and sustainability of integrating and implementing these interventions. Thi…
Global mental health and psychosocial support programming
The global mental health (GMH) field aims to equitably improve mental health and well-being everywhere. This article reviews persistent common challenges hindering sustained, high-quality delivery of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Our focus is on programming that is funded or implemented by external organizations, typically universities or international non-governmental organizations from high-income countries. It is a consensus …
Coping strategies among poverty-affected adolescents experiencing or at risk of depression and anxiety in Nepal
Adolescents employ various coping strategies to manage stress, which can impact their short and long-term mental health. Economically disadvantaged adolescents are more prone to developing maladaptive coping mechanisms due to the persistent stressors associated with poverty. In Nepal, there is a lack of research on how adolescents experiencing or at risk of depression and anxiety cope with adverse situations. This study aims to explore how adoles…
Facilitators in treatment pathways for depression or anxiety among adults in Nepal
Treatment pathways for depression and anxiety disorders are complex, often involving multiple sessions with various service providers and a combination of services. It is crucial to improve healthcare providers' behavior, appointment scheduling, and consultation quality to encourage individuals to seek care. Raising awareness about mental health conditions and available services through different channels and training traditional healers in menta…
Assessment and management of suicidality in a mental health survey among poverty affected adolescents in Nepal
Overall, integrating suicidality measures in mental health surveys was found to be effective suicide assessment and preventive strategy for adolescents in Nepal. Developing suicide management protocols within mental health surveys is essential and feasible for real-time monitoring and response to suicidal behavior among at-risk populations in LMICs, including Nepal
Translation and Adaptation of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Revised and Rugged Resilience Measure
Resilience, the capacity to adapt positively in adversity, is a key protective factor for adolescent well-being, particularly for depression and anxiety, which are highly prevalent among adolescents in Nepal. Accurate measurement across cultural contexts is essential to identify at-risk adolescents and understand protective mechanisms. This study culturally adapted and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Child and Youth Resilience Measur…
Exploring context, mechanisms and outcomes in group interpersonal therapy for adolescents with depression in Nepal
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an evidence-based treatment for adolescent depression. However, since it does not work for all adolescents in all settings, more research on its heterogeneous effects is needed. Using a realist approach, we aimed to generate hypotheses about mechanisms and contextual contingencies in adolescent group IPT in Nepal. We analysed 26 transcripts from qualitative interviews with IPT participants aged 13–19, facilita…
Guardians Looking From Outside
Nepalese migrant workers are at heightened risk of adverse mental health problems. However, the social mechanisms by which experiences of labor migration create such vulnerabilities are not well understood. Moreover, limited attention has been paid to the experiences of left-behind spouses. This study explores how migrant fathers and left-behind mothers experience labor migration and how migration affects mental health across migrant household me…
Development of a school-based programme for mental health promotion and prevention among adolescents in Nepal and South Africa
Introduction: Adolescence is a critical time for mental health promotion and prevention and establishing healthy behaviours. Implementing universal, school-based psychosocial interventions can improve short- and long-term health trajectories for adolescents. While these interventions may offer important opportunities for fostering skills and relationships, few school-based interventions have been developed for and tested in low- and middle-income…
Experience of primary healthcare workers in using the mobile app-based WHO mhGAP intervention guide in detection and treatment of people with mental disorders
This study assessed perception and experience of trained primary health care workers in using a mobile app-based version of the WHO mental health gap action programme (mhGAP) Intervention Guide in the assessment and management of people with mental health conditions in primary care in Nepal. A qualitative study was conducted with primary healthcare workers who were trained in using the WHO mhGAP mobile application in Jhapa, a district in eastern …
A mixed methods evaluation of a World Health Organization competency-based training package for foundational helping skills among pre-service and in-service health workers in Nepal, Peru and Uganda
Health systems globally demand more competent workers but lack competency-based training programs to reach their goals. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a competency-based curriculum (EQUIP-FHS) for trainers and supervisors to teach foundational helping knowledge, attitudes and skills, guided by the WHO/UNICEF EQUIP platform, to improve the competency of in-service and pre-service workers from various health and other service sectors. A …
The burden of mental disorders in Nepal between 1990 and 2019
Mental disorders are the leading cause of disease burden, affecting 13% of all people globally in 2019. However, there is scarce evidence on the burden of mental disorders in Nepal. This study used the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 data to assess the prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of mental disorders in Nepal between 1990 and 2019. In 2019, there were 3.9 million (95% UI: 3.6-4.3) people with mental disorders in Nepal…
Development and functioning of the mobile app-based mh-GAP intervention guide in detection and treatment of people with mental health conditions in primary healthcare settings in Nepal
This paper describes the development process of a mobile app-based version of the World Health Organization mental health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide, testing of the app prototypes, and its functionality in the assessment and management of people with mental health conditions in Nepal. Health workers' perception of feasibility and acceptability of using mobile technology in mental health care was assessed during the inspiration phase …
Understanding Nepali widows' experiences for the adaptation of an instrument to assess Prolonged Grief Disorder
The experience of grief varies across different cultures and contexts. Women in Nepal who lose their husbands confront discrimination, social isolation, and abuse that influence their experience of grief. Through eight focus group discussions with Nepali widows, we elicited socially sanctioned grief reactions and local idioms used to describe common cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms of grief. Accordingly, modifications to an existing …
School-based group interpersonal therapy for adolescents with depression in rural Nepal
School-based group IPT is feasible and acceptable in Nepal. Findings support progression to a randomised controlled trial to assess effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness of psychological intervention within services for depression delivered by primary care workers in Nepal
Providing HAP within integrated depression services in Chitwan was cost-effective, if not highly cost-effective. Efforts to scale up integrated services in Nepal and similar contexts should consider including evidence-based psychological interventions as a part of cost-effective mental healthcare for depression
Social determinants of impaired functioning among Nepali widows
Despite considerable stigmatisation of widows in Nepal, little is known about factors affecting their ability to function in society. Using mixed methods, we studied psychosocial factors associated with impaired functioning among Nepali widows. For the qualitative analysis, we analysed 3 focus groups, 25 in-depth interviews, and 12 key-informant interviews. The quantitative analysis was based on data from 204 widows. Odds ratios were calculated l…
Acceptability and feasibility of using non-specialist health workers to deliver mental health care
Three-quarters of the global mental health burden exists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet the lack of mental health services in resource-poor settings is striking. Task-sharing (also, task-shifting), where mental health care is provided by non-specialists, has been proposed to improve access to mental health care in LMICs. This multi-site qualitative study investigates the acceptability and feasibility of task-sharing mental healt…
Reducing mental illness stigma in healthcare settings
A cross-cultural interpersonal model of adolescent depression
Most cross-cultural qualitative research on depression has been descriptive, documenting symptoms and explanatory models. There is a lack of qualitative research testing theoretical models of depression. The interpersonal model conceptualises grief, interpersonal disputes, role transitions and social isolation as the context in which depression develops and is the basis of interpersonal therapy (IPT), which is increasingly used in cross-cultural …
Resilience Among Nepali Widows After the Death of a Spouse
Responses to the death of a spouse vary; although some are at increased risk of poorer physical and mental health outcomes, others have more resilient responses. In light of the limited scope of research on widows' experiences in Nepal, a setting where widows are often marginalized, we explore themes of resilience in Nepali widows' lives. Drawing from a larger qualitative study of grief and widowhood, a thematic narrative analysis was performed o…
Understanding Nepali widows' experiences for the adaptation of an instrument to assess Prolonged Grief Disorder
The experience of grief varies across different cultures and contexts. Women in Nepal who lose their husbands confront discrimination, social isolation, and abuse that influence their experience of grief. Through eight focus group discussions with Nepali widows, we elicited socially sanctioned grief reactions and local idioms used to describe common cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms of grief. Accordingly, modifications to an existing …
Validation of cross-cultural child mental health and psychosocial research instruments
BACKGROUND: The lack of culturally adapted and validated instruments for child mental health and psychosocial support in low and middle-income countries is a barrier to assessing prevalence of mental health problems, evaluating interventions, and determining program cost-effectiveness. Alternative procedures are needed to validate instruments in these settings. METHODS: Six criteria are proposed to evaluate cross-cultural validity of child mental…
Resilience of refugees displaced in the developing world
Understanding how urban refugees cope by negotiating access to various forms of recognition in the absence of legal-recognition will enable organisations working with them to leverage such strengths and develop relevant programmes. In particular, building on these existing resources will lead to culturally compelling and sustainable care for these populations
Challenges and Opportunities for Implementing Integrated Mental Health Care
BACKGROUND: Little is known about how to tailor implementation of mental health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to the diverse settings encountered within and between countries. In this paper we compare the baseline context, challenges and opportunities in districts in five LMICs (Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa and Uganda) participating in the PRogramme for Improving Mental health carE (PRIME). The purpose was to inform…
Demand and access to mental health services
BACKGROUND: Nepal is experiencing a significant 'treatment gap' in mental health care. People with mental disorders do not always receive appropriate treatment due to a range of structural and individual issues, including stigma and poverty. The PRIME (Programme for Improving Mental Health Care) programme has developed a mental health care plan to address this issue in Nepal and four other low and middle income countries. This study aims to infor…
Acceptability and feasibility of using non-specialist health workers to deliver mental health care
Three-quarters of the global mental health burden exists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet the lack of mental health services in resource-poor settings is striking. Task-sharing (also, task-shifting), where mental health care is provided by non-specialists, has been proposed to improve access to mental health care in LMICs. This multi-site qualitative study investigates the acceptability and feasibility of task-sharing mental healt…
Therapist competence in global mental health
Lack of reliable and valid measures of therapist competence is a barrier to dissemination and implementation of psychological treatments in global mental health. We developed the ENhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors (ENACT) rating scale for training and supervision across settings varied by culture and access to mental health resources. We employed a four-step process in Nepal: (1) Item generation: We extracted 1081 items (grouped i…
Mental health care in Nepal
This study describes many challenges facing mental health care in Nepal. Most of these challenges are not new, yet this study contributes to our understanding of these difficulties by outlining the national and district level factors that have a direct influence on the development of a district level mental health care plan
Partnerships in mental healthcare service delivery in low-resource settings
BACKGROUND: Mental illnesses are the largest contributors to the global burden of non-communicable diseases. However, there is extremely limited access to high quality, culturally-sensitive, and contextually-appropriate mental healthcare services. This situation persists despite the availability of interventions with proven efficacy to improve patient outcomes. A partnerships network is necessary for successful program adaptation and implementati…
Improving detection of mental health problems in community settings in Nepal
Community-based detection using the CIDT for persons in need of mental health care is perceived to be useful and feasible by key community stakeholders who would integrate the tool into their daily activities
Validation of a cross-cultural instrument for child behavior problems
While both the DBIS-N and the ECBI had high classification accuracy for local idioms for behavior problems, the DBIS-N had a more coherent factor structure and added predictive value above the ECBI. Items from the DBIS-N were more consistent with cultural themes identified in qualitative research, whereas multiple items in the ECBI that did not fit with these themes performed poorly in factor analysis. In conjunction with practical considerations…
Resilience Among Nepali Widows After the Death of a Spouse
Responses to the death of a spouse vary; although some are at increased risk of poorer physical and mental health outcomes, others have more resilient responses. In light of the limited scope of research on widows' experiences in Nepal, a setting where widows are often marginalized, we explore themes of resilience in Nepali widows' lives. Drawing from a larger qualitative study of grief and widowhood, a thematic narrative analysis was performed o…
Change in treatment coverage and barriers to mental health care among adults with depression and alcohol use disorder
The study found non-significant trends for improvements in treatment coverage and barriers to mental health care following implementation of the district mental health care plan. The key areas for improvement in the current strategy to improve treatment coverage and barriers to mental health care included change in the content of the existing community sensitization program, particularly for changing attitude and intention of people with mental i…
Culturally and developmentally adapting group interpersonal therapy for adolescents with depression in rural Nepal
Group IPT can be adapted for adolescents in Nepal and delivered through the education system. A randomised controlled trial is needed to assess the impact and costs of the intervention in this setting. Future research in LMICs to adapt IPT for adolescents could use this adapted intervention as a starting point
Health service costs and their association with functional impairment among adults receiving integrated mental health care in five low- and middle-income countries
This study examines the level and distribution of service costs—and their association with functional impairment at baseline and over time—for persons with mental disorder receiving integrated primary mental health care. The study was conducted over a 12-month follow-up period in five low- and middle-income countries participating in the Programme for Improving Mental health carE study (Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa and Uganda). Data were …
Reducing mental illness stigma in healthcare settings
Covid-19 mental health impact and responses in low-income and middle-income countries
Feasibility of implementing a culturally adapted Prolonged Grief Disorder scale in the mental healthcare system in Nepal
Based on the results showing need to address PGD in Nepali widows, further efforts are needed to increase awareness about PGD and develop evidence-supported treatments for PGD, after which screening could be made routine for widows
Development of the mental health cultural adaptation and contextualization for implementation (mhCaci) procedure
A 10-step mhCACI process could feasibly be implemented in a humanitarian setting to rapidly prepare a psychological intervention for widespread implementation
A cross-cultural interpersonal model of adolescent depression
Most cross-cultural qualitative research on depression has been descriptive, documenting symptoms and explanatory models. There is a lack of qualitative research testing theoretical models of depression. The interpersonal model conceptualises grief, interpersonal disputes, role transitions and social isolation as the context in which depression develops and is the basis of interpersonal therapy (IPT), which is increasingly used in cross-cultural …
School-based group interpersonal therapy for adolescents with depression in rural Nepal
School-based group IPT is feasible and acceptable in Nepal. Findings support progression to a randomised controlled trial to assess effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness of psychological intervention within services for depression delivered by primary care workers in Nepal
Providing HAP within integrated depression services in Chitwan was cost-effective, if not highly cost-effective. Efforts to scale up integrated services in Nepal and similar contexts should consider including evidence-based psychological interventions as a part of cost-effective mental healthcare for depression
Social determinants of impaired functioning among Nepali widows
Despite considerable stigmatisation of widows in Nepal, little is known about factors affecting their ability to function in society. Using mixed methods, we studied psychosocial factors associated with impaired functioning among Nepali widows. For the qualitative analysis, we analysed 3 focus groups, 25 in-depth interviews, and 12 key-informant interviews. The quantitative analysis was based on data from 204 widows. Odds ratios were calculated l…
Community perspectives on the implementation of a group psychological intervention for adolescents with depression
Group-based psychological interventions could help to close the treatment gap for depression in low-resource settings, but implementation barriers exist. In Nepal we sought community members' perspectives on how to implement group interpersonal therapy for adolescents. We conducted qualitative interviews with 25 adolescents with depression (aged 13-18) and seven health and non-governmental organization workers, and four focus groups with non-depr…
Treatment Preferences for Pharmacological versus Psychological Interventions among Primary Care Providers in Nepal
There is increasing evidence supporting the effectiveness of psychological interventions in low- and middle-income countries. However, primary care providers (PCPs) may prefer treating patients with medication. A secondary exploratory analysis of a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate psychological vs. pharmacological treatment preferences among PCPs. Thirty-four health facilities, including 205 PCPs, participated i…
Experience of primary healthcare workers in using the mobile app-based WHO mhGAP intervention guide in detection and treatment of people with mental disorders
This study assessed perception and experience of trained primary health care workers in using a mobile app-based version of the WHO mental health gap action programme (mhGAP) Intervention Guide in the assessment and management of people with mental health conditions in primary care in Nepal. A qualitative study was conducted with primary healthcare workers who were trained in using the WHO mhGAP mobile application in Jhapa, a district in eastern …
Mental health (33 works) · Psychiatry (32 works) · Medicine (31 works) · Mental Health Treatment and Access (27 works) · Psychology (26 works) · Qualitative research (19 works) · Psychological intervention (17 works) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development (16 works) · Nursing (16 works) · Clinical Psychology (12 works)