Our Final Trip to Bhutan

For those of you that have supported our efforts in the past, many thanks. After many back and forth with immigration in Bhutan related to age restrictions for foreign workers, Margaret and I have finally received special dispensation to return.

Much has happened in the mental health field since our first visit in 2018. The country has gone from only two psychiatrists to eight, with four now in the psychiatric residency pipeline. The COVID 19 pandemic brought to light the extensive need for mental health services and, under the direction of Bhutan's queen, resources have expanded dramatically. New services specifically for women and children have been created. A new substance abuse hospital with a capacity of 200 residents has opened in Thimphu and, in October, a new 60 bedded inpatient psychiatric hospital will open, along with expanded outpatient services.

It has been my privilege to participate in these changes and an honor to be invited back again. As always, this will be a personally funded, volunteer trip. 

Although resources for training have modestly increased, textbooks are still a luxury unaffordable to trainees. As such, I am reaching out one final time to request donations to fund educational materials.