https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oawyU8vgW2o

For more than 70 million people with psychosocial disabilities in India, access to mental health services is poor, with only 43 state-run psychiatric hospitals across the country, three psychiatrists, and 0.47 psychologists per million people. People with psychosocial disabilities are prevented from fully participating in society by barriers such as societal stigma and attitudes and lack of education and employment opportunities.

To help the mentally challenged people, this project is devised to work within Manav Vikas Bahuudeshiya Gramin Sewa Sanstha’s ‘UDAAN’- Mental Health project. This is a collaborative program with Government of Maharashtra addressing institutional reform in the Nagpur Region of Maharashtra.

The reform process is envisaged as participatory and collaboratively done with local hospitals which are specialised in psychiatric treatment. MVBGSS intervention team will largely play a catalytic role in the reform process and will inform the shape and contours of the reform.

MVF is motivated to develop and work towards finding viable employment pathways as a critical component in helping people recover and live independently. Employing the patients serves to offset the burden on families who have to meet the treatment expenses while also increasing the likelihood of the patients being accepted into their families again. This is particularly relevant for long-stay patients, who stay at the hospital despite their improved mental health since their families are unwilling to take them back, and there is no way to integrate them into the mainstream. Support employment setup is helping them with necessary skills to find employment outside.

Following activities are being carried out under the project:

Taking care of the mental health issues of rehabilitated patients.
Generating pathways of employment for rehabilitated patients.
Enroll rehabilitated patients in the social security schemes- We are designed to accommodate people who will be placed outside the hospital as they are recovered. Still, the family refuses to take them home, and this also resolves the problem of crowding in treatment centres. It is conceptualized more as a halfway home that will provide a base for people with high functionality to move out of the hospital and live in the community.
Medicines, clothes, and medical Assistance with visits of nurses and supervisors are being taken care of by the specialized staff.

The Reform center is located in Khapa village which is 95 KMs away from Nagpur. Currently there are 15 patients including men and women are staying at the facility.

The funds collected will be utilized for:

The cost of monthly grocery which is around Rs. 60,000 will be covered. Initially we are raising funds for the grocery items for six months.
Procurement of a new washing machine
Procurement of a new water purifier.

About Manav Vikas Bahuudeshiya Gramin Sewa Sanstha:

We are the registered nonprofit based out of Nagpur that works to Bring lasting improvements in the quality of life of Deaf-blind children and young adults, children and women infected and affected with HIV & AIDS by providing linkages and access to available Government services.

We need your support for the rehabilitation of the patients. Let’s be their support and make them feel that disabled and mentally challenged are not burden. They deserve love and care. Please contribute as much as possible and share this campaign with your peers.