Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing among beneficiaries of a community-based intervention in Nepal: Findings from a cross-sectional endline evaluation of the PARBARDHAN project

Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing among migrant workers and their families are important public health concerns in Nepal. The PARBARDHAN project used a community-based approach to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support, community participation, and local service capacity in migration-affected communities. This study describes psychosocial wellbeing at endline evaluation and compares findings descriptively with baseline and midline. A cross-sectional, mixed-methods endline evaluation was conducted in Salyan and Kailali districts of Nepal. The quantitative component included 245 project beneficiaries aged 16–80 yearsincluding20 (8.2%) migrant/returnee workers and 225 (91.8%) family/community respondents; 216 (88.2%) reported having a family member currently abroad. Psychological distress was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and anxiety and depression the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25). Life satisfaction and subjective happiness were assessed. Qualitative interviews and focus group discussions provided contextual information on project implementation and perceived effects. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data were analysed using framework analysis. Data were collected from3-26 February, 2026. At endline, 34.7% screened positive for psychological distress, while 8.2% screened positive for anxiety and 5.3% for depression (5.3%). Compared with baseline and midline assessment rounds, anxiety and depression screening positivity was lower at endline, whereas probable psychological distress was higher. Qualitative findings indicated increased mental health awareness, greater willingness to seek support, perceived reductions in stigma, and support through self-help groups, peer groups counselling, and community activities. However, substantial dissatisfaction with life was also reported. Because the evaluation rounds used independent cross-sectional samples, the observed differences cannot be interpreted as within-person changes or attributed causally to the PARBARDHAN intervention. The findings indicate the perceived value of community-based mental health and psychosocial support while highlighting continuing economic insecurity, family separation, and other structural factors affecting psychosocial wellbeing.