We wish people could understand that the brain is the most important organ of your body...
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Just because you can't see mental illness like you can see a broken bone, doesn't mean
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It’s not as detrimental or devastating to the family or an individual…
Rehabilitation Of The Mentally Ill Destitute
Destitute are the people who are without basic necessities of life. They are homeless and in state of utter poverty. The result is most of them develop psychological problems like schizophrenia, fear psychosis, mood disorders, etc.
The most heart-rending sight on the streets which you have often witnessed is the mentally-ill roadside destitute dirty, haggard, half-naked people, with stinking torn clothes, long matted hair, lost in their own world. Typically these patients suffer from a mental illness called Schizophrenia causing them to lose their balance, equilibrium in normal thinking. Untreated and often misunderstood by laypeople and relatives, disturbed thinking causes them to wander on the streets.
Neptune Foundation has taken up the task of helping mentally ill destitute since 2010. We have a dedicated team to survey, analyze and conduct their pick-up. The pick up is done with the local police help. Due court orders are obtained for admitting such destitute in Regional Mental Hospital, Thane for treatment.
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MD –Mr. Nayan Bheda, State Cabinet Minister for Housing, Labour and Mining –Mr. Prakash Mehta, Hon. Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis & MLA –
Mr. Amin Patel at the launch of Neptune Foundation’s Helpline for Rehabilitation of Mentally Ill Destitute dated, 08th March 2015.
How it's Done...
1. Intervention
- When our team gets a call on our helpline number
(8879881234) we immediately start working...
- Our team visits the destitute and examins his/her mental fitness
- For all admissions, we inform the concerned local police station
with a letter for a constable given a day prior for the pickup.
- After conducting the pickup in our ambulance the destitute is taken
to the Regional Mental Hospital, Thane to be examined by the
psychiatrist for the medical certificate of mental illness
- The Destitute is then taken to the concerned Court for taking the
admission orders for the RMH, Thane.
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2. Engage & Follow-ups
- Our team along with with the social workers of RMH, Thane carry-out counseling sessions with the destitute. With the treatment
going hand in hand we put together all the leads given by the destitute.
- The leads are assimilated and organized to form a general framework about his family/guardians.
- Neptune Foundation Team & Social Physcitric social workers of RMH, Thane come in contact with the local police station and then
with the family members
- Verification of all documents is done
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3. Reunion with the family (Gharwapsi)
- In this, we first do the counseling of the family members so as to make them understand the overall situation.
- We ask the family to come and take the patient back home with all the expenses are taken care off by us.
- In other situations, if the family members are unable to come then we get our team ready to escort the patient to his residence along
with an RMH, Thane staff to get all the legal formalities completed after the reunion.
Creating Happiness & Well-being...
Taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms
of a disease, during festivals and special occasions Neptune Foundation
has been organizing various events at the Regional Mental Hospital, Thane
on a regular basis.
- Kheliyaad Annual Sports events
- Sneha Sammelan (Talent Contest) RMH, Thane
- Kite flying festival and special meals.
- Christmas Celebrations
This is done to fulfill the need for participation and bring about a general
the feeling of overall positivity among the patients.
We have donated 2 Erickshaws so that hot food could be transported from
the central kitchen to the wards without wastage and injuring those who
transport them.
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Educate yourself about mental health and mental illness.
What is Mental Illness?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental illness as a health issue that is associated with changes in thoughts, emotions, behavior, and relationships with others.
Stress and Vulnerability...
Vulnerability refers to an individual's susceptibility to mental illness and this is determined by a person’s genetics and early life experiences...
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Psychosocial stress is associated with negative life events such as loss of a loved one, getting fired from a job, experiencing trauma relationship conflicts, etc. Alcohol and drug use can also interact negatively with a person’s biological vulnerability.
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A combination of biological vulnerability and stressors can lead to mental illnesses such as psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder etc. as they are the body and brain’s way of coping with stressors.
Treatment models for mental illness usually focus on a
combination of addressing both biological and social
factors. Examples are:
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Taking medication
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Avoiding alcohol and drug use
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Developing effective coping skills for managing stress
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Participating in meaningful activities
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Building socially supportive relationships
If you are interested in finding out more about a specific disorder in more detail please refer to the National Alliance on Mental Illness or the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Poverty-Mental Illness-Homelessness..
We aim to address the factors that create the circumstances that lead individuals suffering from mental illness to fall into homelessness.
Research has shown a close link between poverty and mental illness: Common mental disorders are twice as frequent among poor communities
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Those experiencing debt and hunger, poverty, overcrowded housing are more likely to suffer from common mental disorders
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The highest prevalence of mental disorders are among those with the lowest levels of education and the unemployed
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Those from the lowest socio-economic background have a risk 8 times higher than those of higher SES for schizophrenia
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individual’s ability to carry out essential aspects of daily life (self-care, household management, employment) in addition to preventing individuals from maintaining stable relationships (caregivers, friends, family).
These factors combined with the stress of living with a mental illness, those suffering from mental illness are much more likely to fall into homelessness than the general population.
Stigma & Discrimination
Stigma and discrimination can seriously affect the health, welfare, and quality of life of people with mental health problems.
The ignorance, fear, misunderstanding, and prejudice that surround mental illness deepen the severity of the illness as individuals withdraw further from the world around them.
All of our clients have at some point in their life experienced the negative consequences of stigma and discrimination.
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What can you do reduce stigma and discrimination?
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Educate yourself
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Be Emphatic
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Don't Discriminate
Mental Health & Daily Life
Even if you aren’t suffering from a severe mental illness, the daily stressors of the modern age can affect anyone negatively.
It is normal to experience highs and lows, and important to take your mental feelings as seriously as you do your physical.
There are many ways in which you can keep yourself healthy mentally, we have listed a few ways below:
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Be kind towards yourself and others
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Take time for rest
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Exercise at least a few times a week
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Participate in activities that you enjoy
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Surround yourself with a positive support network
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Practice gratitude
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Eat a balanced diet
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Sleep!
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Educate yourself on mental health
If you, or someone you know is experiencing serious symptoms of mental illness including hallucinations, delusions, consistent depressive mood, suicidal thoughts etc. please get help.
About India..
In India, there is a 90% treatment gap for those living with mental illness 10-12% of persons living with mental illness experience long term care needs and these individuals are languishing in mental hospitals, beggar homes and therefore experience poor quality of living, poor mental health outcomes, significant human rights violations
Outreach...