Purpose
of the booklet 
The booklet has been produced in order to increase
the potential of NGOs in the mental health area.
Objective
of the booklet
The text is lucid, conversational and simple,
using life stories and ethnographies to illustrate points. The
objective of the booklet is to encourage the readers to articulate
ideas and concerns in mental health and emotional well-being.
The approach is holistic and non-directive, aiming more to develop
a perspective than to impart a skill.
Section
contents of the booklet
Why this booklet?'; 'Rama tells her story'; 'Mental
health is for everybody'; 'Some aspects of the mind'; 'Emotional
health of women'; 'Medical perspective in mental health'; 'Mental
health- A fine balance'; 'Women's movement and mental health';
'Rama continues'; 'Stigma'; 'Rama makes a decision'.
Using
the booklet
The booklet can be used for mental health orientation
with groups in ongoing training programs. By building group exercises
around the themes of the text, it is possible to go beyond the
text and explore new ideas and issues relevant to the organisation's
work.
The
booklet may be used for exploring the local understanding of
mental health, what are the shared experiences, local knowledge
and practices. The booklet may also lead to affirmative action
by stimulating discussion around mental health services, what
is available, and what is the quality of the services. Local
mental health institutions and traditional practices may be
studied for what they offer as well as their problems. The
booklet encourages thinking on the development of organizational
sensitivities in mental health, how to grow in the mental health
area and how to give care and support for those in psychological
difficulties.
Methodology
A 2 day orientation workshop on Mental Health was conducted
by Bapu with various grassroots organizations in Maharashtra,
through the 'Maharashtra Women and Health' Program. The workshop
was participatory, engaging the organizations in group discussions
about local understanding and practices in mental health, women's
experiences of emotions and emotional disorders, organizational
experiences of mental health and service related issues. Tathapi,
one of the co-organisers of the program documented this process
and encouraged CAMH to write up the booklet. Using these, as
well as other curriculum and documentation materials in CAMH,
the booklet was written up. Deepra Dandekar of CAMH fictionalized
Rama, the central character around whom the booklet revolves.
The booklet was peer reviewed by two expert peer reviewers, who
sent in written feedback. Internal peer reviews were also done
by the CAMH and Tathapi teams. A field testing workshop for half
a day was conducted, where ten participants from various organizations
in Pune as well as Tathapi and CAMH teams participated. Groups
were formed to read the booklet in full and feedback was collected
through both group discussion as well as in written form.
Collaboration
The booklet was a collaborative effort between
CAMH and Tathapi, Pune. CAMH stocks copies of the booklet. Bulk
orders for training programs may be placed with:
Tathapi
Trust
425 DP/77 Mukund Nagar
T.M.V. Colony
Pune 411 037
Tel: 020-24270659
Email: tathapi@vsnl.com
For
permission to translate the booklet into the local language,
please contact Tathapi office.
