Bhutan’s Ministry of Health has launched its first nationwide mental health helpline, offering 24/7 counseling services through trained professionals. The initiative comes amid rising reports of depression and anxiety, particularly among youth and returning migrant workers.
The helpline—accessible in Dzongkha and English—has already handled over 1,200 calls in its first month. Issues range from exam stress and relationship breakdowns to post-pandemic trauma. Health officials in Thimphu say this is part of Bhutan’s broader “Compassion First” campaign to make mental health care more accessible and socially accepted.
Experts in India and Nepal have welcomed the move, suggesting such cross-border models could be replicated in Sikkim, Assam, and Nepal’s eastern provinces—where cultural norms and mental health challenges mirror Bhutan’s.