MANASA Keralam has been providing a platform for patients, family members, and healthcare professionals to come together, share experiences, and support each other in the journey to mental health recovery.
Published Aug 17, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2024 | 7:00 AM
MANASA Keralam's goal is to create a stigma-free society by fostering empathy, understanding, and inclusivity, and empower individuals to seek help, recover, and thrive. (Creative Commons)
In a society marked by prejudices, and stigma, the journey to mental well-being is often fraught with challenges.
It is said that when individuals feel heard, understood, and supported, their chances of recovery significantly improve. Also, inclusive dialogue can help dispel myths, reduce stigma, and foster empathy within the community.
In Kerala, a self-help association – MANASA – has been providing a platform for patients, family members, and healthcare professionals to come together, share experiences, and support each other in the journey to mental health recovery.
Marking a significant milestone in the state’s mental health landscape, MANASA (Mentally and Neurologically Ailing Person’s Self-help Association) has turned 25.
Talking to South First, Dr T V Anilkumar, HOD, Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College (GMC), Ernakulam said,
“When I was with the Mental Health Center (MHC) in Thiruvananthapuram, a weekly Social Skill Training (SST) group session was initiated. This was in 1997-98.” Dr TV Anilkumar, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Ernakulam Government Medical College (GMC), recalled.
“Patients from chronic wards of the MHC recovered patients from family wards, and others attended the SST group sessions. Recovered persons, who were active in these SST sessions showed marked improvement. Also, those who associated with it shared their word of appreciation,” Dr Anilkumar told South First.
The sessions sparked an idea to have a common platform for patients, relatives, and professionals. This inspired to form MANASA at the GMC Thiruvananthapuram’s Department of Psychiatry in 1998.
The idea was to broaden the scope of service beyond psychiatry and to reduce stigma by highlighting the neurological aspect, he said.
MANASA, now known as MANASA Keralam, involves faculty members of the psychiatry department, social workers, psychologists, nurses, undergraduate medical students, and postgraduates in psychiatry and psychology along with recovered persons and their family members.
“There were ups and downs in the momentum of activities. Many novel activities were initiated at various points, some sustained while others did not. This initiative is currently operational at GMC Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and MHC Thiruvananthapuram. The members have increased from a handful to around 500,” Dr Anilkumar added.
The doctor said one of the central activities at MANASA involved a weekly gathering of family members in the ward.
During these sessions, they were encouraged to openly discuss their concerns and questions regarding mental illness, including its causes, treatments, and prognosis.
“These meetings, facilitated by the nursing staff, social workers, psychologists, and postgraduate students, foster a stronger connection between the family members and the treatment team, easing the burden on families,” Dr Anilkumar said.
“Hearing others’ experiences and gaining a better understanding empowers them to manage the situation more effectively, which in turn improves treatment adherence and reduces the likelihood of relapses and readmissions,” he explained.
Additionally, the involvement of trainees in nursing, psychology, social work, and psychiatry offered them the opportunity to develop the skills needed to lead group sessions and shift their perspectives.
Another initiative being offered is caregivers for inpatients who lack relatives.
According to MANASA management, survivors or caregivers can choose to care for another person without relatives on a paid basis, preventing the need for custodial care. Additionally, MANASA employs caregivers for patients who have no social support.
“We also undertake awareness campaigns, and vocational rehabilitation activities like encouraging work habits, and providing them with the opportunity to learn a skill of their choice which may help in future recovery and rehabilitation. Awareness of various government programmes including legal aid is also provided,” Dr Anilkumar added.
According to MANASA, it employs the principles of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), which emphasizes solutions rather than problems.
“This approach is user-friendly, serving both as a self-care and therapeutic method. By focusing on the strengths of the individual and their environment, SFBT encourages positive change and outlines steps toward a better future,” a MANASA official told South First.
“Many families experience significant relief through this approach, and MANASA actively supports and encourages its members to adopt it for self-care — an essential goal of any therapeutic intervention,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Anilkumar said that one of the major limitations of MANASA was that the activities were more centered around tertiary care academic institutions.
“We need to move more towards the community. Stigma is still the major challenge to get people to come to the forefront and take these movements forward,” said Anilkumar.
As MANASA Keralam enters its 26th year, plans are afoot to introduce it in other medical colleges like Alappuzha, Thrissur, and Kozhikode and then to district hospitals and other MHCs.
MANASA Keralam’s goal is to create a stigma-free society by fostering empathy, understanding, and inclusivity, and empower individuals to seek help, recover, and thrive.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)
