There has been a steady increase in mental health issues across India and the backward districts are
worse hit. The awareness level of mental illness and mental health is very low. The communities strongly
believe in black magic and other superstitions which is often attributed as causesof mental illness of
persons. The communities are misled by the faith healers, quacks, and priests who adopt unscientific
methods to ward off evil forces residing in the mentally ill persons. This has led to the stigmatization of
mentally ill persons and led to their isolation within their communities.
Mental health services in India need immediate attention from the government, policymakers, and civil
society organizations.With the increase in population, changing lifestyles, unemployment, lack of social
support, and increasing insecurity, it is predicted that there will be a substantial increase in the number
of people suffering from mental illness in rural areas.
ORBIT with the support of the Azim Premji Foundation and Live, Love, Laugh Foundation, was able to
identify thousands of Mentally ill persons in five taluks of Bidar district and help them to get treatment
from the District Mental Health Program (DMHP)
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Goal/ Impact Statement
- All identified Persons with mental illness from poor communities of Bidar District with severe or common Mental Illness access treatment (from DMHP), stabilized and at least 25% of them practice livelihood activities thereby integrated into the community.
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Objectives
- Identify all the people with mental illness in Bidar District to ensure treatment and reintegration for all the identified PWMI and families and to implement, promote, and sustain the District Mental Health Programme in the District.
- To capacitate staff of Navajeevana, barefoot counsellors, and teachers and to sensitize secondary stakeholders and Govt Dept. staff for the effective implementation of the mental health program in Humnabad Taluq.
- To impart Income Generation, vocational training for at least one member from affected families (rehabilitated PWMI or Caregivers) for livelihood through wage or self-employment
- To set up a “Help Line” for PWMIs, people, students and youth with depression, to provide counselling services and treatment.
