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Support Ashadeep To Give 70+ People With Mental Illness A Life Of Respect
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In any village, town, or city across our country, homeless persons with mental illnesses are a common sight. Guwahati, the major terminus of all road and rail traffic in the North Eastern region has a sizeable wandering population on the streets who are suffering from mental illness. Some of them are on the streets because of their mental illness while some have developed a such illness because of their homelessness.
But in any case, they are perhaps the most vulnerable group amongst the homeless with the risks ranging from premature death because of poor living conditions, infections, and poor personal hygiene, to inadequate food, sleep, and access to minimum health services. The mentally ill because of their inherent symptoms and lack of awareness in the community, do not receive any help from any form of welfare activity and are generally avoided by most people.
Ashadeep was initiated in the year 1996, with the vision of achieving a life of better quality for persons with mental disorders and their families by initiating and strengthening mental health interventions in the Northeastern states of India. Ashadeep has always consistently strived to reach out to persons with mental disorders in all contexts and has been a major service provider in mental health interventions for one and all in the community.
‘Navachetana’ Rehabilitation homes for homeless women with mental illness
The rehabilitation services of Ashadeep were initially limited to serving mentally challenged individuals coming from families. ‘Navachetana’- a home for homeless mentally ill women, started functioning from the middle of March 2005 in an attempt to rehabilitate the mentally affected homeless women lying on the streets of Guwahati, with the objective of re-integrating them with their families. Since the inception of Project ‘Navachetana’ till 31st December, 2015, 582 women have been provided with these services of which 534 have been reintegrated in various parts of India including Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
The experience of Navachetana has shown that between 65-70% of the rehabilitated women can be reintegrated into their families. 15-20% of them become functional, however, their families cannot be traced, and 10% of them are severely challenged, and hence, locating their families and reintegrating them is very difficult.
‘Udayan’ Rehabilitation Home for Homeless Men with Mental Illness
Having worked for the cause of homeless women with mental illness since 2006, Ashadeep has developed certain models of care and rehabilitation for persons with mental illness which can be replicated for other such vulnerable groups in society. Instead of going in a campaigning mode, Ashadeep has been actively involved in advocacy with the government and other policy-making agencies through various strategic mental health interventions. As a result of such discourse, the Social Welfare Department, the Government of Assam in collaboration with Ashadeep has initiated rehabilitation homes for homeless men with mental illness in Bamunigaon, Assam since July 2013. Along with provision for admission, care, treatment, and reintegration of these men, livelihood generation activities are also a part of this intervention.
Psychological and other social rehabilitation services are provided at this center by a team of qualified personnel including psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, and trained health care staff. A unique feature of these homes is the fact that scientific tools and approaches such as Growth Chart, Mental Status Examination, Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, Indian Disability Examination and Assessment Scale, and Global Assessment Functioning are used in a homely environment instead of a hospital like setting up. Till 31st December 2015, 88 men have been rescued and admitted at this home out of which 57 have been reintegrated with their families in various places viz. Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Nepal.
Their Lives Are Filled With Pain & Suffering
While there are several NGOs, old age homes, orphanages, and shelter homes doing their best to support these people, it is not enough.
However, We Can Make A Difference
The need of the hour for the poor and helpless are healthy means and access to basic essentials. With your support, they can have the means to survive.
Your contribution towards grocery kits will ensure that the homeless and destitute can live better life. Even a small act of kindness can go a long way in helping hundreds of people.
Together, we can give them hope again.
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