Functional and vocational disability show up as side effects of mental illness. But if appropriate rehabilitation is provided, persons recovering from mental sickness or even chronic patients can be reintegrated with the society.

Proving this is the Psychiatric and Neurological Rehabilitation Department of NIMHANS in Bangalore which is bringing smiles back into the lives of numerous sufferers of mental ailments, for more than two decades now.This Rehabilitation Centre is constantly helping in the speedy recovery of psychiatric patients, guarding them against recurrence of ailments, while also teaching them the skills necessary for leading an independent life.

The centre has a day-care facility attended by about 100 to 110 psychiatric patients, everyday. Depending on the nature of their illness, these visiting patients are provided daycare services and are also enrolled into different types of productive activities and vocational training.

Expert instructors train the beneficiaries in 16 types of manufacturing activities in separate vocational training divisions each of which are equipped to support 50 to 100 patients everyday. Making fancy and general candles, leather products, therapeutic products, carpentry, baking, tailoring, printing, weaving, traditional mat weaving, craft making, soap and phenol manufacturing and more. Here, mental patients do everything that any normal person is capable of doing. Procedures are taught and then patients are allowed to carry them out carefully under supervision. Crafts Instructor Mala says, “these activities make most of them happy and rejuvenate a confidence in them.”

And as Rameshwar, Senior Instructor in the Centre’s Printing Division, puts it, “it is a place to divert the attention of patients into productive and constructive activities, helping in speedy recovery and checking the chances of relapse of their sickness.”

While providing necessary raw materials, training and guidance through its multidisciplinary staff, the Centre also provides incentives to the patients, depending on their work behaviour.

And once they show satisfactory work behaviour, it also assists them in getting a job outside.

Srinivas (name changed) still under medication for chronic mental illness, was a regular student of this Rehabilitation Centre for two years, till recently. Now, he comes to the Centre now and then only to meet his instructors and fellows. He was all smiles as he told that he has now got a security guard’s job and earns Rs 2,000 per month.

Apart from productive activities, the Centre also motivates patients towards functional independence, cleanliness and self-grooming. Doctors refer in-patients or out-patients of NIMHANS who need rehabilitation and those who are fit to take part in productive activities, to the Centre. Outside patients whose family members seek day care facility or are referred by other psychiatrists are enrolled.

Patients above 14 years age are also enrolled.The Centre’s services are free of cost for persons below poverty line. However, for others, charges are nominal and range between Rs 75 and Rs 300, depending on their family income. A rehabilitation team of the Centre, consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers, decides what activity a patient can do and refers him or her to that section. NIMHANS provides free daily transport facility for the outside patients availing vocational training and day care.

The Centre offers neuro-operational therapy that includes training in functionability, activities of daily living and hand functions for people suffering with paralysis and cerebral disorders.

There are 22 in-patient beds neuro-rehabilitation which are always full and 40-60 out-patients also visit for various therapies, everyday. An activity centre for children suffering from cerebral palsy is also here.

Bringing them in the mainstream

Need for awareness

Dr T Murali, Professor and Head of Psychiatric and Neurological Rehabilitation in NIMHANS and Vice-president of South East Asia Region of World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR) says, “The Rehabilitation Centre has a good success rate with at least 50 per cent of patients brought back to the main stream of society.”

“Not only those with simple mental disorders, even chronic psychiatric patients can lead a normal life with adequate medical care and for them rehabilitation measures are of vital importance. But, yet the number of patients availing these services is less when compared to the actual number of patients needing the same. This is because of lack of public awareness and family support.”

Marketable products

The quality products manufactured in the Centre are marketed through the Marketing Outlet set up at the Centre, as well as through Janata Bazaars. Centre’s Bakery fulfills all the bread requirements of NIMHANS and Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi Hospitals. However, the Bakery engages patients in only a few activities to ensure hygiene and patients’ safety.

Tailoring unit makes about 25 to 30 different products like operation theatre gowns, face masks, doctors’ coats, patients’ dresses, and answers most of the Institute’s requirements. It also provides the specially designed easy-wear sarees and blouses, shirts and pants for neurological patients. Candles are made in several creative designs. Craft section’s products are sold through its outlets.This section recylces papers used for EEG purpose into covers, which are sold to Janata Bazar and HOPCOMS.

Lending a helping hand

Margadarshi, an association of parents of psychiatric patients, has associated itself with the Rehabilitation Centre’s activities. It is generating financial support for the medicines needed by poor patients suffering from chronic disorders like schizophrenia and psychosis and also creating awareness about the importance of rehabilitation.