This project will start recruiting in Term 2 of the 2024-2025 year.
Location: Thimphu, Bhutan
Positions: TBD
Project student leads: Michelle Ling, Fiona Huang, Jessica Li
Faculty Supervisors: Dr. Videsh Kapoor
In 2019, Jillian Lin first visited Thimphu and established a partnership between the UBC Faculty of
Medicine’s Global Health Initiative (GHI) and the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of
Bhutan (KGUMSB). The goal was to collaborate on a project to capture the mental health
perspectives, challenges, needs, and strengths of Bhutanese youth and young adults. Mental health
challenges continue to be a significant issue in Bhutan, especially following the impact of the
pandemic and due to a shortage of mental health professionals.
After project setbacks due to COVID-19, in May 2024, the UBC team was able to go on our first in-
person trip to Bhutan, conducting in-person interviews with students and experts as well as hosting
an art expression event at KGUMSB. While in Bhutan, we also had the privilege of visiting multiple
hospitals, shelters, and temples around Thimphu. The cumulative effort of our team members in the
last few years has culminated in 289 survey results from KGUMSB students and numerous focus
groups and interviews. The next steps are to work alongside our partners in Bhutan to continue
interpreting these results and expand our survey project, exploring mental health perspectives in
additional schools. Ultimately, the project aims to guide/produce mental health education and
resources for the Bhutanese youth population.
The Bhutan Health Project at UBC GHI is grateful to have the support of the Bhutan Canada
Foundation, which initially connected UBC GHI and KGUMSB and provided logistic support to our
first meeting with KGUMSB.
