Article 1

Title: “Impact of COVID-19 on mental health in Bhutan: a way forward for action.”

Author: Tsheten Tsheten, Kinley Wangdi, Nima Dorji, Darren J. Gray, Dan Chateau, Archie
C.A. Clements, and Hari Prasad Pokhrel.

Summary: This research article talks about how people's mental health has been impacted by
COVID-19 in Bhutan. Article also explains why more individuals are depressed, worried, and
takes drugs or alcohol. The government has tried to assist such issues by distributing funds to
individuals who have lost their job, training persons to give mental health care, and launching
counselling hotlines. However, there are still challenges faced during the pandemic, such as a
lack of resources in some places and individuals being reluctant to seek assistance due to the
stigma related with mental illness. The research paper also tells how common and severe mental
health illnesses including depression, anxiety, and drug misuse were in Bhutan during the
epidemic. Next, the researchers reveal the primary causes leading to the rise in mental health
issues, which are social isolation, economic pressures, and disturbances in everyday life.
Furthermore, they want to consider how the measures taken by government has effectiveness in
minimizing the mental health issues, such as mental health support programs and financial
support schemes. Furthermore, the study aims to assess the effectiveness of existing government
efforts in addressing mental health concerns and to make solutions for improving support
networks and resilience in the face of future crises. The article also mentions measures to
improve, such as making it more accessible for people to seek treatment online and training
everyone how to recognize and support those suffering from mental illnesses. Moreover, it
shows that there are solutions to overcome problems and there are steps that may be taken to
improve mental health during COVID-19 in Bhutan.

Research problem: The study article aims to look at the mental health issues caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic in Bhutan. Article also focuses on how the epidemic has increased the
country's rates of anxiety, depression, drug abuse, death by suicide, and domestic violence. It
asks questions such as, "How are people feeling during the pandemic?" Why are more people
depressed or anxious?
Purpose: The main purpose of this research is to gain an understanding of mental health issues
caused by the COVID-19 and to develop effective solutions for dealing with the associated
issues and to contribute to the development of evidence-based methods for treatment of mental
health and to enhance the overall quality of life for people in Bhutan.

Key Variables:
1. Independent variables: Government intervention to help Mental issues in Bhutan, and
Social stigma and prejudice regarding mental issues in the country
2. Dependent variables: Prevalence of Mental health issues.

Design: It use the design of observational and quantitative, with elements of descriptive and
correlational research.

Instrument: Instruments used are:

1. Existing Data Sources such as Annual Health Bulletin
2. Surveys such as mental health outcomes of teenager conducted by UNICEF survey.
3. Interviews

Data source: The majority of the data included in the study article comes from secondary
sources, notably from already-published materials including government reports, UNICEF
surveys, and the Annual Health Bulletin. Furthermore, the research has also include original data
obtained from surveys carried out by UNICEF, especially to evaluate unique mental health
consequences in particular demographics, like teenagers.

Scope: The research has some drawbacks as it relies heavily on existing data, which may not
cover all aspects of Bhutanese mental health. It also focuses only on one specific moment in time
during the epidemic and does not cover whole Bhutan equally.

Main ideas: The main idea of research article are how the mental health issues are caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic in Bhutan. The article also discusses how feelings of depression and
anxiety rose throughout this period, and how factors such as isolation and financial difficulties
contributed to this. Moreover article also examines what government did to help.

Article 2

Title: “Mental health care in Bhutan: policy and issues”

Author: Rinchen Pelzang

Summary: The research article talks about mental health management in Bhutan. It claims that
there are issues with how mental health treatment is delivered, such as a lack of funding or
resources. The paper encourages for improved policies to assist individuals with mental health
issues. It describes how mental health treatment should be incorporated into routine healthcare
and should be made more accessible to individuals. It also discusses how much it is important
the need of everyone understanding mental health and working together to aid those in need. The
research aims to analyze and uncover policies and issues in Bhutan's mental healthcare system.
The research article disputes for better policy creation to overcome the barriers that people with
mental illnesses faces while seeking mental healthcare services. It also examine Bhutan's mental
health-care system, with an emphasis on services, policy, and concerns and it also advocate for
better policy development for mental health in Bhutan. The research article uses secondary
sources as it uses analysis and examination of mental healthcare in Bhutan focusing on policy
and issues of the mental healthcare system in Bhutan. The research article wants Bhutan to
enhance how it assists people with mental health issues.

Evaluation:

Research Problem: "What are the policies and issues surrounding the mental healthcare system
in Bhutan, and how can policy development be improved to better support mental health?"

Purpose and Objectives: The Purpose of this article is to discuss the policies and issues of
mental healthcare system in Bhutan which focuses on services, policy and need for better policy
development.

Key variables:
Dependent variable: Availability and accessibility of mental health services and Prevalence of
mental disorder in Bhutan.

Independent variable: Policies and issues Healthcare system in Bhutan.

Design: The study's research design appears to be mostly observational and qualitative. The
project gathers and analyses current data, policies, and practices relating to mental health in
Bhutan. It measures the frequency of mental diseases, looks at how mental health services are
organized, and investigates numerous problems that impact care quality. Furthermore, the
research advocated for better policy formation based on its results.

Given the complexities of mental health systems and Bhutan's sociocultural setting, a qualitative
approach enables for in-depth examination and comprehension of the challenges. It allows
researchers to capture the nuances of policy execution, resource allocation, stigma, and
community participation.

Instrument: It uses analysis and examination of mental healthcare in Bhutan focusing on policy
and issues of the mental healthcare system in Bhutan.

Data Source: It uses secondary data sources such as literature, reports, government records and
healthcare data. It includes information about prevalence of mental illness, healthcare system,
mental healthcare policies and guidelines in Bhutan.

Scope: some of the limitation of this research article are: it only focuses on secondary data
sources hence it doesn’t comprehend how the mental health patient feels. It only focus on
Bhutan, hence it can’t be applicable to other location. It does not specify when the information
was obtained and it may not be still applicable.

Main Ideas: The study article discusses concerns regarding the quality of care for persons with
mental disorders and stigma, discrimination, and human rights abuses faced by individuals with
mental disorders, highlighting the need for better policy development for mental health and
advocating for improved quality of care for persons with mental disorders.