Hiking for Healing: How Nepali Immigrants Combat Mental Health Challenges in the U.S.

Nepali-speaking communities in the USA are facing a rise in mental stress and suicide rates, underscoring the urgent need for accessible wellness solutions. A key factor cited is the modern, fast-paced life in the U.S., where work, academic, and social pressures contribute to deep mental stress, exhaustion, loneliness, and, in some cases, suicidal ideation.

Mental health concerns are becoming increasingly pronounced among Nepali immigrants and students. Factors driving this mental imbalance include cultural adjustment, geographical distance from family, intense competition, and economic strain. Furthermore, loneliness, a lack of self-expression, and insufficient social support fuel feelings of despair within the diaspora.

Community members are highlighting hiking, or walking in nature, as a simple, cost-effective, and natural activity with proven health benefits. Scientific studies suggest that regular engagement with nature can significantly reduce mental stress and suicidal thoughts while simultaneously boosting self-confidence and fostering positive thinking. Spending time in natural settings—such as green spaces, on trails, or near rivers—is known to refresh the mind and alleviate negative feelings.

Addressing these challenges, the U.S.-based non-profit organization Inspired to Explore is organizing hiking, running, trekking, and other nature-based activities specifically for the Nepali and Nepali-speaking communities. The organization’s mission is to engage individuals in outdoor pursuits to enhance their mental, physical, and emotional health, foster self-confidence, and cultivate a sense of cooperation within the community.

The organization conducts programs across various U.S. states, including New York, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, and California, engaging a diverse range of participants. Attendees have reported that the activities help relieve daily stress and inject new energy into their lives. The programs also serve as platforms for developing leadership, volunteering, and community engagement skills.

The formation of Inspired to Explore was directly inspired by the personal journey of its founder, Neelhari Bhandari. Today, Bhandari is a successful entrepreneur, healthcare executive, and real estate strategist who has transformed his love for nature into social service.

Displaced from Bhutan and raised in a refugee camp in Nepal, Bhandari emerged as an active social activist for the Nepali community in America. After arriving in the United States in 2009, he worked hard to change his life’s direction, earning a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from Southern New Hampshire University and completing executive training at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He achieved prominence in real estate and notable success in home and community-based healthcare.

In 2022, Bhandari faced a turning point: he was physically unwell, mentally stressed, and “spiritually lost.” As he recalls, “I had stopped knowing myself.” That year, he participated in the Wharton School of Management Development program, attending leadership and self-development classes that shifted his perspective.

In October 2022, his life’s roadmap completely changed after he trekked the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. This deep reconnection with nature gave him the conviction that others could be similarly transformed, leading him to found Inspired to Explore.

Inspired to Explore’s mission is to strengthen physical health, self-confidence, and social relationships through outdoor activities. In 2023, Bhandari set a personal goal to participate in the highest peaks of the seven continents and the world’s major marathons. So far, he has successfully climbed Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc, and Mount Vinson.

He is currently training for Denali and Aconcagua. He has also completed the 2024 Chicago Marathon and is preparing for the New York City Marathon, with plans to participate in the London and Sydney Marathons in the coming years.