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ESAF Santhwana

Overview

A sound mind is as important as a healthy body. The fact that mental health and substance abuse are included in the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations General Assembly, clearly indicates the priority assigned to this key discipline. However, mental health issues are not given the priority that they deserve by public healthcare systems. While public mental healthcare services are sporadic, private healthcare services are too expensive for the economically underprivileged sections. The stigma associated with mental illnesses, and the lack of availability of information on positive mental healthcare practices are the two other major deterrents for patients.

Santhwana is a CSR project of ESAF SFB that focuses on mental healthcare services. The primary beneficiaries are the bank’s micro banking customers in Kerala. Several activities are conducted as part of the project. A few are: -

Direct and online sessions on parenting, family enrichment, personal mental health care.

Tele counselling sessions to improve the access to mental health services.

Referrals to various mental health professionals as and when required.

Training laypersons to become mental health volunteers.

Project Objectives

To increase the access to Preventive health information related to mental health.

To provide preventive and rehabilitative psychosocial services to families through systematic counselling.

To train and equip laypersons with skills to identify mental health problems, provide basic counselling and suggest suitable referrals.

Impacts

A platform was created for addressing mental illness through tele counselling

Manomitras were designated to identify the mentally ill members in society.

Angels who are destined to soothe souls

The story of R

R is a 45-year-old who lives alone due to his drug addiction and mental illness. His addiction and illness alienated him from his wife and three children. When Mini Pathrose, an ASHA worker and a Mental Health Volunteer trained under the project, was assigned the area R resides in, she noticed R’s unkempt appearance and the sorry state of his home. While studying his case she learned that he was neglected by both friends and family. She took the initiative to talk to his family and the ward member to clean his house and surroundings.

She also arranged for regular Psychiatric review and free medicines from the nearby Primary Health Centre. She consciously kept in touch with him and his family members to encourage his return to normal life. Mini is grateful for the mental health training she received from ESAF Swanthana. She is glad that she was able to make a positive difference in someone’s life.

A visual walkthrough of the project