JYOTHI NIVAS CHARITABLE SOCIETY: Rehabilitation

Community Based Rehabilitation of the Wandering Mentally Challenged Persons of Rural Kerala

A Glimpse of Kerala The God’s Own Country

Area 38863 sq. kms
Population 31,841,374
Sex Ratio 1058 females per 1000 male
Literacy Rate 93.4%
No.of unemployed 4 million

Wayanad-The Programme Area A Hilly District Most backward district in the State of Kerala.

Area 2131 Sq.KMs.

Mental Health Position and Treatment Facilities in Kerala

Mental Illness
1 % of the population of Kerala suffers from major mental illness (More than .3 million )
In - Patient Treatment Facility ( Including 3 mental hospitals and private nursing homes in the State)
Total No. of beds 2500

Causes

Alcoholism
Erosion of family relationship
Increasing individualism
High rate of unemployment
Inability to fulfill high expectations in life

Community Initiative As the number of the wandering mentally ill has increased and the professional help did not match in proportion to the increasing need, it was in this context that the non-professional social workers stepped into the arena with the support of the community.

It was this scenario that prompted Jyothi Nivas Charitable Society to start programmes to rehabilitate the wandering mentally ill in Wayanad, with limited resource but with rich experience.

Community Response It is the community members who inform Jyothi Nivas about the wandering mentally ill persons
And until the volunteer team from Jyothi Nivas arrive the scene , the community members will see that the mentally ill person remain there without moving away

Respecting The Human Rights of The Mentally Ill

The treatment will be as per the guidance of the Psychiatrist
If needed police / legal aid will be made use of to provide his/her care and treatment
The next step is to take him or her to the psychiatrist and then to Jyothi Nivas for care and treatment.
Once the "person" is met by the volunteer team, the team members will try to gain his / her confidence and persuade him / her to join them.

Family Atmosphere The care, treatment and rehabilitation takes place in Jyothi Nivas is in a family atmosphere.

The "sick" is seldom put in a locked cell. If needed the "sick" will be kept in the cell for a minimum period and will be allowed to mingle and interact with other inmates.

The “ sick” will be treated as one of the family members- giving the care , love and consideration that one gets in one’s home. This speed up the curative process

Various Therapies

Different kinds of therapies are used to bring the "sick" back to mental health namely :

Occupational Therapy
Spiritual Therapy
Music Therapy
Family Therapy

Occupation Therapy

Each person is given occupation according to his taste, experience and expertise. Some of them are
Milk Cow Rearing
Rabbit Rearing
Tailoring
Araca Leaf Plate Making

The Aim

To make him/her that he/she is not a liability but an asset
To make him/her aware of his/her self worth

Community Feeling Creation

The speed of the curative process increases when the "sick" feels that he/she is part of the community.
When he/she feels that he/she is not isolated from the community
Group farming, sharing responsibility of running of the rehabilitation centre etc., creates community feeling among the inmates and this speeds up the curative process

Community Sensitisation Programme

The community should be sensitized to accept the mentally ill and anybody who suffers from any other physical illness.
Curing and rehabilitating the "sick" alone is not sufficient
Families should be made aware of their responsibility

How the Rehabilitation Centre is Being Run

They eat the same food the inmates eat
The family of the director with their 2 children live with the inmates under the same roof
Use the same facility
Volunteers help the inmates
Local community provide money and food as donation

The expense per inmate per month for care, medicine, shelter, food etc.

Expense	Rupees	Dollars
Food	550	10
Medical Care	300	6
Other Expenses	150	3
Total	1000	19

What happens to a cured person

He will be reunited with his/her family

Find suitable employment for him / her

If not married , a partner will be found to start a family

Work as a volunteer in the rehabilitation center

The lessons we have learnt

Rehabilitation of a wandering mentally ill person is not a Herculean task
Any committed non-professional can do it
Care and treatment should be in a family atmosphere
Community feeling should be strengthened
Culturally acceptable approach should be used
Community support should be mobilized and community should be motivated

The Final Lesson

This type of rehabilitation can be replicated in any country , provided It should be culturally acceptable and Community Supported.