Projects CaMH

1. (2001-2004) “Women and mental health: Documentation, training and self-help”. The main objectives of this project was to build community publications, and develop literacy programs for grass roots organizations and NGOs; and to start a center for women with depression. The total fund outlay was Rs. 21 Lacs for 3 years, given by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Mumbai. This support grant served as the seed grant for institutional development.

Our Resource Center (Library & Documentation services)
Seher, our service program including individual counseling as well as community work in Pune
Research & Documentation activities on various community mental health topics and community publications
Workshop activities on gender, law and mental health, publishing reports for advocacy
Seminars on Caste and Mental Health; non-medical approaches to mental well being
Developing core programs: Archives and Alternative Mental health
Developing advocacy skills and techniques
Systems creation and management; Projects management
Financial systems and statutory compliances
Establishing Trust policies on various organizational matters
Website development

2. (2001-2003) A MacArthur Leadership Fund was also supported by Bapu. The project had the objectives of setting up a community resource center on Women, reproductive and mental health; building a curriculum on Gender and mental health; and bringing out some research publications on reproductive health and mental health. The total project outlay was Rs. 17 Lacs (approx.) over a two-year period, given by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Chicago, USA.

Research outcomes: Research reports
Publications
Development of sections of our library and documentation center on Women, reproductive health and mental health
Course on Gender and Mental Health
Professional Development of senior managers of Bapu Trust

3. (2003-2004) Bapu was a core member for the “Gujarat Mental Health Mission: Strategies for Mental Health Sector Strengthening”. This was executed, for the Government of Gujarat, by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The main objective of the Mission was to do extensive local research and networking in Gujarat, in order to inform and develop a State Policy on Mental Health. The Mission report is now being developed into a State Mental Health Policy document by the Government of Gujarat. The total project outlay was approx. Rs. 5 lacs, for an 8 month period, given by The Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi, through the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Consultancy to the Government of Gujarat
Research outcomes (4 research papers submitted to the GoG)
Co-Editor of the Gujarat Mental Health Mission Report, 2003, a policy strategy paper on strengthening the Mental health sector in Gujarat
Participant in the consultative process established for developing a draft mental health policy for the state of Gujarat
Advocacy for state mental health policy in Maharashtra

4. (2003-2006) Bapu finished a project “Health and healing in western Maharashtra- the role of traditional healing centers in mental health service delivery”. The objective of this project was to extensively research and film the nature of treatment at traditional healing centers in western Maharashtra, with a view to define and document their role in mental health service delivery. The total project outlay is Rs. 25 Lacs, given by the ICSSR / IDPAD “Alternatives in Development” program, over a 30 month period.

Research outcomes: Publication of articles in various technical journals and books; Prepared a book manuscript for publishing in mainstream academics
A community publication on traditional healing
Data archive and audio-visual documentation for the library & documentation center
2 Films for policy advocacy & a photoarchive collection
A film festival and a photo exhibition
Workshops with traditional healers in Maharashtra
Advocacy on the role of traditional healers in mental health service delivery and dialogue with the Government on their Andhashraddha Bill

5. (2002-2004) “Building a people’s movement in mental health- Towards mental health friendly prisons”. A total amount of Rs. 4 lacs (approximately) was received from Action Aid, India, towards a study of the possibilities of reform of custodial institutions for the mentally ill (mental hospitals, jails and beggars’ homes in Maharashtra). This has been followed up with another National Fund grant of Rs. 2.75 lacs from Action Aid, India, towards start up of interventions in this population.

Study documentation
Submission of report through AA to the NHRC
Advocacy activities: various public lectures, handbills, campaign materials, etc.
Developing a service program in institutional settings.
Developing organizational capacity in finance and project management
People development

6. (2004-2005) “Enabling legal and ethical environment in Gujarat for Mental Health”. A year’s project has been recently granted to Bapu Trust to develop capacity in the area of gender, legal and ethical thinking in the mental health sector in Gujarat. We are collaborating with local agencies as well as government departments (judiciary, health) in executing the project. The total fund outlay of this project is Rs. 26 lacs (approx.) given by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi, through the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

7. (2005-2008) “A people’s movement in mental health: Creating therapeutic communities and other viable institutional / community models for mental health”. This is a three year Next Steps project, totalling around 54 lacs, given to strengthen mental health interventions in the Yerawada Mental Hospital, the Yerawada Beggars’ home. Funder: Action Aid International

Developing Seher in two institutional contexts- Family court, Mumbai; Beggars’ Home, Pune
Establishing Mumbai projects office
Jan Maanasik Arogya Abhiyan, a state level campaign on mental health, development and human rights in Maharashtra: Various campaigns and events were conducted; dialogue established with the Government of Maharashtra
Documentation of DMHP program in Maharashtra & quality of care study
Trainings of all cadres within governance and judiciary (WCD department, Family court system)
Advocacy on the Beggary Prevention Act in Maharashtra and participating in alliance on homelessness
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a study group activity + report writing
People’s professional development

8. (2005-2008) Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Proposal has given us an institutional grant totalling 81 lacs, supporting our library, documentation service, the archive, our psychotherapy program and the community trainings programs. In 2008, we are submitting a proposal for a corpus grant.

Consolidating our core competencies and programs: Library & documentation services; Archives; Alternative Mental Health program.
Consolidating our core services: Seher psychotherapy center and the community program; case supervision mechanisms
Research outcomes: Law and mental health research report
National campaign on the Human rights of persons living with a mental illness called, NAAJMI- National Alliance on Access to Justice for Persons living with a Mental Illness
Active participation in the UN convention processes of the making of the CRPD; Various activities on the CRPD
User Advocacy workshops and consultations; peer support work
A National Policy Advocacy Consultative group to work on national mental health policy over 2 years- policy advocacy document
Awareness events on AMH, Archives, other
Organisational and people development
Developing a Law and Mental health desk in Hyderabad
Website development
General administration

9. (2007-2008) “Gender and mental health: A project to refresh the field through research and service development”. This project totalling around 11 lacs, supported by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, for 1 year helps us in consolidating our work in the field of gender and mental health, making the linkages with development and public health work.

National review seminar on Gender and mental health
Working on a book manuscript of various papers on Gender, development and mental health
A report on gendering counseling services
A workshop report / policy manifesto on Gender and mental health

Total outflows per year for the Bapu Trust (15-20 people staff and core services, trainings, advocacy programs) has approx. been Rs. 60-70 lacs. Based on calculations of the last 3 years, salaries constitute 20-25% of monies spent; 55-60% approx. on programs; and another 15%-20% on support costs. The costs related to courier, communication, local travel, which earlier used to be booked under support costs are now increasingly booked under program costs as our networking and campaign activities, training activities and events have taken on in a big way. We have estimated that 15% of project costs go to the support head to cover general administration, rents, infrastructure and assets maintenance, insurances and taxes, bank charges, audit and accounts fees, board meetings, etc.