More than 41 per cent of women lost their jobs during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nepal. Responding to their practical needs, UN Women with support from the Government of Finland has been ensuring their access to food and nutrition through women-managed community kitchens across Nepal. Pushpa Sunar is one of the 123 people employed in the community kitchens, which is providing an income to the women working there and helping to alleviate the care burden among other women, as well as build trust and cohesion in the communities.
Gender Equality Update no. 28 - Mental health (April 2021)
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OVERVIEW
A World Health Organization survey published in October 2020 found that the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93 percent of countries worldwide and that the demand for mental health services is increasing. The survey highlights how COVID-19 has hindered people’s access to mental health services in Nepal and discusses the urgent need for more attention and funding to address this problem. During the first wave of COVID-19 and its resulting lockdown in Nepal, deaths from suicide increased by 11.2 percent between March/April 2020 to June/July 2020 in comparison to suicide deaths during the timeframe in previous years.