Bhargavee Rubber’s Shant Manas
In a way to give something back to society,we at Bhargave Rubber collaborated with Dr. C. Vasudevan for conducting health programs in rural areas in and around Madurai. Shant Manas, the mental health program almost covered 1000’s of people from rural places. we planned to expand it to places in near future.
Shant Manas began in the year 2007 by Dr. Cahn Vasudevan, consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, UK. Since its inception we have expanded our field of care from 4 villages to 14 from our base in the west of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, with a combined approximate population of over 80,000. It now has three full-time social workers sharing a caseload of 220 service users, with approximately 50 actively receiving treatment.
Also the treatment of psychiatric disorders, ShantManas aims to provide education on mental health to the local populations, reducing stigma and myths surrounding mental health. Due to its success .The service continues to expand as demand and awareness of mental health increases.
Who Are We ?
A professional therapeutic service working towards positive and holistic mental health in rural South India. Started our root from Madurai
What We Do ?
We offer treatment (both pharmacological and talking therapies), counseling and rehabilitation, and promotes positive mental health in rural communities
A Registered body ?
A registered, not for profit, NGO dedicated to the service of people suffering from mental health difficulties and associated conditions
Shant Manas Means ?
‘ShantManas’ Means ‘peaceful mind’ in Indian vernacular, As we are into service for people with Mental health difficulties, we stick to this.
Our Approach
Our approach to healthcare is unique. Instead of relying on care based in health centers, the team travel to service user’s homes every day, meeting with them and their families in a relaxed environment. This focus on community-based care and family involvement is in keeping with the local norms and aids ShantManas’ integration of care into everyday lives.
Once Identified !
Once a potential service user has been identified, a member of the team visits them in their home to begin the journey of treatment and rehabilitation. Rapport is built with them, their family and their neighbours, and if necessary, pharmacological treatment is started. The team will then visit the service user at least once a week indefinitely – moving from medicines, to talking therapies, to rehabilitation.
Whom We Focus
The ShantManas catchment area covers a rural population, with many informal workers often living in poor economic conditions. As such there is little or no awareness regarding mental health and illness, there are no local services and access to free, urban government treatment is limited or not possible- with no consistent follow-up after treatment. Mental health compounds economic difficulty by keeping able people out of work, creating a negative impact on their families also (in a community in which most households have one breadwinner).
OverseenRoot Cause
Many communities retain the idea that mental health is a product of ‘possession’ or have other mythological roots, and there remains a significant stigma attached to have a mental health issue. Because of this belief many sufferers (or their families) seek alternative forms of treatment and do not access conventional healthcare. As well as those mentally ill causing trouble in the wider community, they may be responded to with hostility or even aggression by neighbors or villagers who do not understand their condition.
Such stigma also creates social limitations on a sufferer’s family and their place in the community, affecting deeper levels of rural society: for instance, a mental illness can force the entire family into the fringes of the community and affect the prospects of a sufferer’s relatives.
Stories From Beneficiaries
Tamilarasan Story
Tamilarasan Story
Tamilarasan’s mom had severe difficulties in managing him without any psychiatric help for the past three years. She and her daughter had to work hard to manage daily expenses of their family and to feed Tamilarasan.
Rekha's Story
Rekha's Story
He is an alcoholic and drug user. Rekha doesn’t even know how to manage herself. When her husband was with her he was suspecting her and not allowed her to open the doors and windows.
Tamilarasan Story
Gopi Story
The man who had been very friendly started isolating himself from others and started talking to himself and laughing to himself. His day-to-day activities were affected and he stopped going to work.