Santoshi’s Journey to Resilience

*This video covers the topics of suicide and domestic violence.

In Nepal, people with psychosocial disabilities are often misunderstood and face discrimination and social exclusion, making it difficult to reach out for support. In his film “Breaking Chains: Santoshi’s Journey to Resilience,” DJP Fellow Sanjaya Raj Neupane follows the story of Santoshi BK, a woman grappling with a psychosocial disability following her husband’s death by suicide. Left alone, Santoshi faces the challenges of single motherhood and economic hardship, leading to depression, hallucinations, and her own thoughts of ending her life. “I used to scream and cry,” she says, “see hallucinations of snakes around me.” While mental health services in Nepal are scarce, particularly in rural areas, Santoshi finds strength in a self-help group facilitated by KOSHISH, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting Nepalis with psychosocial disabilities. “Being in a group … increases self-esteem. The mind is satisfied,” she says. “When something happens and we find ourselves feeling sad, we help each other move forward.”

Breaking Chains was part of a collection of Disability Justice Project films that received the Mental Health Hero Award at This Is My Brave Australia (TIMBA)’s 7th International Mental Health Film Festival.

Editing assistance and English voiceovers by Aparna Sekhar

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