“I am no longer defined by leprosy – I am defined by my resilience and my hope for a better tomorrow.” — Rajman
Healing can appear in many forms. While we often think of healing as recovering from physical damage, emotional and mental trauma often leaves the deepest scars. Rajman, a man in his 40s from Nepal, knows this all too well.
When Rajman was diagnosed with leprosy, he began multi-drug therapy to treat his bacterial infection and start on the road to recovery.
A year later, while his physical symptoms were under control, his mental health remained deeply impacted. The emotional scars, family burden, stress, and social exclusion weighed heavily on him. He felt that despite being healed on the outside, he was still suffering on the inside.
That changed a few months later when Rajman connected with Effect Hope partners who encouraged him to participate in a group counselling program. The sessions were specifically designed to address the emotional and psychological challenges faced by people affected by leprosy.
At first, he was unsure of what to expect. But everything shifted when he met others who had also experienced the disease. For the first time, Rajman no longer felt alone. He and others shared their stories, while trained counselors offered guidance and tools to manage stress, combat stigma, and build emotional resilience.
Those sessions sparked something new in Rajman: hope.
He began to share his story with others in his village, encouraging conversations around the importance of treating both the physical and mental effects of leprosy.
Rajman’s story is a reminder that true healing is holistic—and that mental health support and community can be just as life-changing as medicine.
📘 Read more stories like Rajman’s in our 2024 Impact Report
