The Centre for Mental Hygiene

EXISTENCE HALF WAY HOME FOR CONTROLLED & TREATED MENTALLY ILL PERSONS

THE CENTRE FOR MENTAL HYGIENE

EXISTENCE HALF WAY HOME FOR CONTROLLED & TREATED MENTALLY ILL PERSONS

EXISTENCE halfway home for psychosocial rehabilitation of treated and controlled mentally ill person has been set up under Centre for Mental Hygiene (CMH), an NGO under the Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

EXISTENCE halfway home strives to facilitate and rehabilitate treated and controlled mentally ill persons after their discharge from Mental Hospitals and Asylums, so they can become productive citizens like any normal person. It will give them the dignity they deserve. The project is aimed at providing vocational trainings as well as Counselling for them and their families, group therapies et al; to reintegrate with families and the society. The project is expected to also provide medical advice/treatment relating to their illness so that periodic or occasional psychiatric disturbances can be managed. The need for such halfway home is felt, as the community at large is still hesitant in accepting such persons into its fold. The halfway home provide services at the outmost depth of sincerity and dedication that there will not be a discrimination of any kind as we stand upon equal ground. And it is expected that the inmates would be able to get integrated into normal life within a reasonable period of time.

There is still a lack of understanding of persons with mental illness in Manipur. They are mostly associated superstitions, witchcraft and other ill associated mindsets. People are still hesitant to seek treatment and with changing lifestyle and trends, there has been an increase of people with mental illness especially in Manipur. Therefore intermediary centres like halfway homes are the need of the hour where they can take shelter and seek treatment before they are reintegrated back to their families.

Another encouraging matter is the fact that almost all the nursing institutes in Manipur regularly come to the centre for exposure training programmes for Psychiatric nursing where they are given training on how to deal with psychiatric patients when they exposed to them in hospitals etc. Likewise, many students who are either pursuing BSW or MSW courses also come for their internships at our centre to gain valuable knowledge to further their expand their experience which is again an important part of their curriculum and studies.

OUTREACH PROGRAMMES

The centre also regularly takes up various awareness programs in the community to sensitize people on how to overcome mental illness or how to reach out to concerned people who would be able to help them for their treatment thus bridging the gap between proper and improper treatment. It was also found out that majority of people who are mentally ill and who are homeless hailed from rural areas. As such, EXISTENCE initiated OPD camp for far flung areas. We are looking forward to expand such initiatives which would be able to help people who do not have access to psychiatric interventions.

THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE

Rehabilitation plan is different for each individual for each individual depending on his type of illness, duration, socio-cultural factors, severity, family background etc. Team work is one of the very important factors in the process of rehabilitation. Team cooperation and coordination is very essential for the success of the rehabilitation programme.

Vocational Trainings

Somatic Treatment

Assistance from Psychiatrists

Psychosocial Treatment / Therapies

Yoga / Meditation / Exercise

Indoor Games

TYPES OF ILLNESSES REPORTED

Schizophrenia

Substance induced psychosis

BPAD(bi-polar mood affective disorder)

Alcohol dependent syndrome

Anxiety disorder with depression