Chandigarh, June 1
Learning to use one’s inner strength, derived from mind, spirit and soul to overcome mental illness is what the unique concept of “Athma Shakti” teaches. Given the social stigma attached to mental illness in India, such people continue to suffer.
The Athma Shakti Vidyalaya, Bangalore, is a unique residential therapeutic community, which makes use of various psychotherapies to help people suffering from schizophrenia and other mental disorders to overcome their illness. The vidyalaya was set up in August 1979, in a rented accommodation.
The man behind the unique concept, a Canadian priest, Father Hank Nunn, was here in the city today with his other team members, to share their experiences with others. “Since more than 50 per cent of the patients coming to us at Bangalore are from the northern region, we have been getting a lot of requests to have a similar set up here in the city,” says father Hanks.
The ball has already been set rolling for setting up of the North Zone Athma Shakti Vidyalaya in the city. The site for the institute has been identified, about 12 km ahead of the PGI.
“I met the Governor yesterday to discuss about the institute but with an estimated cost of Rs 1.25 crore, the project can come through only if liberal donations are received,” says Col A.K. Mehndiratta, secretary of the North Zone chapter.
Restricting the number of patients to a mere 24 at a time, to enable personalised care and treatment, based on individual needs, a holistic approach is adopted. “Irrespective of the help offered from outside, the patient must learn to use his inner strength to handle his feelings appropriately, to distinguish thinking and feeling and incorporate an appropriate set of beliefs and attitudes, which means having the power to be mentally well,” explains Father Hank.
“If people suffering from mental ailments are able to control their thinking and are in touch with reality, then we succeed in our task,” opines Mrs Usha Srinath, who after serving as a psychiatrist for several years joined the community.
It is a team comprising of trained psychologists, psychiatrists and counsellors who provide theraupetic community treatment to patients unlike at bigger institutes. “As compared to the West, the level of awareness in India about mental health is very low and the biggest hurdle is the reluctance on the part of parents and family to accept that their loved one is facing mental problem,” regrets Father Hank.
Though psychotropic medication is used as a support in treatment, but it is mostly dance and music therapy, yoga and exercises which are used liberally while treating a patient. Some of the people whose family members or friends have been able to overcome their mental illness shared their experience with those present at the interactive session, held at the Chandigarh Club.
While Father Hank and Dr Saudamini Bambah shall be the patrons of the North Zone Association, Mrs Neelam Laul will be the president, Lt Gen Baldev Randhawa the senior vice-president, Mrs Meenakshi Mohendru as vice-president and Col A.K. Mehndiratta as the secretary.
