Project Anjali

Campaign Story

About the project

People living with mental illness are among the most marginalized and underserved in India. State mental hospitals in West Bengal can accommodate only 2000 patients, against an estimated 125,000 people with mental health issues. Institutional overcrowding and a severe shortfall of psychiatric professionals result in poor-quality care that is inconsiderate of important caste/class/gender/sexuality intersections, and deplorable living conditions for residents, some of whom have been abandoned for decades. These individuals suffer violations of human rights regularly, including: physical violence, forced institutionalization, abandonment, disinheritance, incarceration, lack of medical care, lack of employment opportunities, limited access to justice, restricted mobility, and pervasive social stigma.

This Project is fully funded by the Oak foundation.

Making a difference

Anjali works in one of the most neglected areas of health. Anjali’s thrust is twofold: To establish Mental Illness within the mainstream health paradigm of India, and to ‘speak for’ a large population of marginalized people with mental illness vis-à-vis their right to a professional and inclusive system of care and treatment.

Anjali’s “Voices” program counters stagnant and regressive systems to bring about systemic changes in the care framework. “Voices” promotes social inclusion for people living in four mental hospitals in West Bengal. The project seeks to re-integrate former patients into society by providing livelihood training and job placement services, and to reduce institutionalization by promoting community-level, prevention-based care alternatives. Anjali advocates for progressive policies and institutional practices that place patients’ dignity at the forefront, and works to end the stigma associated with mental health disabilities.

Action during COVID times

● Livelihood and social-skill courses continued, but among smaller groups in accordance with social-distancing requirements.
● Provided medical equipment for treatment of COVID patients to two hospitals in North Dum Dum and Rajarhat municipalities.
● Advocated for vaccination of all hospital residents.

The way forward

● Provide individual advocacy on a case-to-case basis.
Deliver need-based emergency disaster support to reintegrated participants.
● Administer care and support training for 25 core staff and volunteers.
● Anjali’s 20th anniversary celebration, including all staff, volunteers, representatives of partner NGO and government.
● Recruit a livelihood manager to ensure continued success of job training and placement programs.

Project Impact

250

Residents of hospitals and halfway homes participated in social and livelihood skills sessions

3

Residents employed through livelihood program.

26

Residents helped with finding employment

60

Reintegrated 60 recovered residents with their families.

Interactive session held with staff of Institute of Mental Care, Purulia, to ensure better care and management of patients.

Last Year’s Grant Disbursed: $80,775

Current Year’s Approved Grant: $138,522

Project Story

In India – as anywhere – mental illness affects not only the sufferer: It exacts its toll on the entire family.

Nandini’s personal problems stemmed from a series of traumatic events in her youth. One day, her brother (who may also have been emotionally disturbed) attacked their father with a blade, killing him. Lacking any formal schooling, she had hoped for a better life free of turmoil when she married at age 20. Unfortunately, her alcoholic husband created a host of new problems for her and their newborn daughter.

After her daughter arrived, so did the voices. Nandini complained she was unable to sleep due to the auditory hallucinations. She descended quickly into a state of severe paranoia. Despite his own challenges, Nandini’s husband had the wherewithal to take her for treatment. But it cost him his job at the shoe factory, as he was frequently missing work to bring her to her treatments.

Nandini’s condition was deteriorating in spite of the treatment, culminating with two attempts at suicide by hanging. She was plagued with recurring episodes of rage; her husband was often the target. Her mother and other brothers showed little interest in helping Nandini, but her in-laws dutifully took care of household chores when she was unable to maintain the household. When she was not having mood disturbances, she would work as a domestic helper and would do embroidery work. She did her best to save what money she could in the bank for her daughter.

Exasperated, her husband and in-laws took her to several traditional healers for treatment, which proved ineffective. As a last resort, she was admitted to Lumbini Park Mental Hospital.

Anjali came into Nandini’s life as she was recovering. She attended the organization’s capacity-building and counseling sessions regularly. Before her discharge, Anjali conducted a home visit to ensure that the family understood her condition and the importance of acceptance. Though initially supportive, her in-laws balked at the idea of her returning home. But following several dialogues with Anjali workers, they started to believe in the concept of recovery. Nandini returned to her home and was duly reintegrated into her family.

Anjali provided Nandini with continuing follow-up support. Gradually, she came to realize that she must be self-reliant in order to look after her family. She took a job at the shoe factory, and once she accrued some savings, started her own garment business. Nandini now became the family rehabilitator, persuading her husband to get his former job back and returning the family to a steady financial footing.

As Nandini learned, mental illness doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Although the hard work was hers, Anjali played a significant role in Nandini’s recovery from a hopeless state to one of resilience and confidence. Her victory is borne out not only in her ability to earn and save for her daughter’s education, but in the family relationships and friendships she has been able to nurture back to health.

Project Photo Gallery