‘Mental Illness and Stigma’
An awareness campaign

Understanding the need and importance for social sensitivity and awareness towards the issue of mental illness in order to make bona fide reintegration and inclusion of individuals suffering from mental illnesses in society a reality, an awareness campaign organised by the MANAV Foundation is being held during the World Mental Health Week, from 3rd of October, 2009 to 10th of October 2009.

“Mental Illness and Stigma” has been implemented with the hope for a change in the prevailing attitudes and misconceptions that have shaped society’s way of thinking, leading to positive and significant contributions to the end-goal, which is making the inclusion of the mentally ill a viable and foreseeable reality.

The intention is to initiate a social conversation about mental illness within society using multiple channels.

The following four distinct mediums of communication have been identified as the vehicles for the awareness sought:

1. An ‘anti-stigma’ film
An ‘anti-stigma film’ featuring individuals currently recovering from mental illnesses along with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ustad Zakhir Hussain, portraying the lack of differences between all people in society has been made by the foundation. The film aspires to de-isolate the issue and encourage mentally ill people to step out of the shadows whilst at the same time endeavours to address the stigma that drives society to discriminate against people with mental illness.

This film, which is one minute long is being aired on Zee Café and Zee Studio and in theatres in Mumbai during the Mental Health Week. Do try and catch it on air!

2. Print Media
Articles related to the issue of mental health, mental illness and the success stories of individuals that have battled the illness and its aftermath will be seen in magazines like Savvy, Time Out and in the Midday newspaper, amongst other city publications. Look out for these articles, they will enlighten you on the lives lived by others amongst us.

3. Photography Exhibition
“I Want To Be” is a series of photographs taken by Laila Vaziralli, a professional photographer, in collaboration with the MANAV Foundation. Depicting the dreams, hopes and ambitions of individuals recovering from severe mental illnesses, the idea for the exhibition stemmed from the acknowledgement of the fundamental right to dream. Never before has this right been questioned, never have we doubted it’s worthiness, irrespective of whether in reality our dreams come true or not. Moreover, to dream – big or small, is vital to our existence, integral to staying alive. With this in mind the clients of the MANAV foundation were told to dream, to dream ambitious, bold and brave dreams….

A variety of dreams emerged from this process… some were practical ambitions like the desire to work in an office or become a welder. Some were as simple as the hope to be a yellow flower. Several were “out of the box” and ingenious in nature, like becoming a foreigner or a DJ!

Using costumes, face paints, and props the clients were dressed up and photographed as they wished. A number of clients didn’t want to be recognisable, while others were unafraid to show their faces and thought it was important they tell society that they have an illness, just like any other illness, which is treatable and makes them no different from other individuals. All the photographs were taken at the Manav Rehabilitation Centre, so that the clients were in a comfortable and familiar environment.

These images are intended to initiate a social conversation, leading to the elimination of stereo types and the stigma, which not only discriminates but mitigates the most basic right of all – the right to dream. Come and have a look and share in the dreaming…

Need for Awareness

The mentally ill, the emotionally disturbed and those with severe personality disorders bear not only the anguish of their suffering but also the additional burden of society’s indifference and ignorance. This indifference and ignorance leads to stigmatisation, which is clearly expressed in the numerous, relentless discriminatory actions against the mentally ill, observed in almost all cultures all around the world. Mental health issues, in recent times have gained some due in the west, where quantum changes have been made in the approach towards the mentally ill but in India the progress has been painful, slow and often at dear cost. Being as neglected and excluded from any and all mainstream processes, our social structure perpetuates and reinforces the stigmatisation attached to mental illness. People maintain a distance from mentally ill individuals that, ultimately leads to their isolation and complete ostracism from society.  The uneasiness keeps alive the persistent lack of will to address the differences that exist in society.  Most suffering individuals endure not just the painfully debilitating symptoms of their illness but must also suffer the ignominy of complete invisibility. Not wearing the outward signs of most physical ailments, a mentally ill person goes largely unnoticed until more often than not, it is too late.

Society’s unwillingness to care and commiserate with the problems and the needs of the mentally ill is also reflected in the lack of facilities available for its addressal. Moreover, the government’s consistent blindness to the importance of investing in mental health is crystal clear in it’s policies, budget, and overall agenda.

According to the National Mental Health Programme, 20-30 million Indians are in need of some form of mental health care. Every year 250,000 new cases are reported. But these figures do not include the thousands of others who may be suffering in silence without access to help. It is estimated that timely intervention can ensure that a minimum of 60 percent of these mentally ill people can achieve some level of recovery.

Less than a pathetic 1% of our state’s entire health budget is allocated for mental health care which is ultimately felt in the acute shortage of mental health care funding and services, and the subsequent lack of awareness thereby. Many individuals suffering from mental illness are unable to avail of the required health care services and thus most often not able to achieve recovery.

In order to change history and ensure that many lives do not continue to waste away, the world needs to take notice. We need to wake up as a people and refuse to allow any more unnecessary losses.
We bring to you and your attention the issue of mental illness, and the magnitude of suffering and needless waste of precious lives that continues, without abate, in our midst every single day. All we ask is that you think about it.

About the MANAV Foundation

The MANAV Foundation, formed in 2004, is a non-profit organisation that focuses on the issue of adult mental health and mental illness. A day care facility for the psychosocial rehabilitation of individuals recovering from mental illnesses, under the banner of the MANAV Foundation, functions in South Mumbai.

The Manav Rehabilitation Centre is our initial and predominant intervention and is for individuals who haven’t been functional within mainstream society for reasons that stem from a mental or emotional debility. It’s mainstay objective is to facilitate the reintegration of mentally ill individuals into mainstream society, by awakening the client to his/her own capabilities.

The overall treatment of the individuals attending the rehabilitation centre (our clients) has a multi-faceted approach. Although structured, the day is moulded to each individual client’s treatment needs and current capacity. The objective of every activity and interaction is to regain a certain level of function-ability in the individual, so that if and when required or desired, s/he is able not only to function within society, but is also able to live a relatively independent life.