Need to set up national trust for those battling severe mental illnesses: Dr Hamid Dabholkar

The increasing burden of the disease and limited opportunities have made them raise several demands to ensure those with mental illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives.

Approximately, one per cent of the population suffers from a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, he said. (File)

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Need to set up national trust for those battling severe mental illnesses: Dr Hamid Dabholkar

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Over the years, efforts made by Dr Hamid Dabholkar’s Parivartan Trust and its partners have provided job opportunities to at least 200 persons facing mental health issues – from Manas Rang, an initiative that uses theatre, songs and drama to provide a platform, to Kiran, which is a support group of caregivers and parents that runs a day-care centre.

However, the increasing burden of the disease and limited opportunities have made them raise several demands to ensure those with mental illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives.

At a media conference held Wednesday, Dr Hamid Dabholkar, the psychiatrist who manages the Parivartan Trust set up by his parents, the late Dr Narendra Dabholkar and Dr Shaila Dabholkar, said that given the magnitude of the problem, the government response has been negligible. “There is a need for setting up an independent national trust for severely mentally ill persons to meet their increasing concerns and demands,” Dr Hamid Dabholkar said.

Approximately, one per cent of the population suffers from a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, he said. “Currently available treatments are effective and most diseases can be controlled. However, a support system is vital and that is why Parivartan Trust set up Kiran,” Dr Hamid Dabholkar said.

Moreshwar Deshmukh, a parent and member of the Kiran support group, said an independent national trust should be set up to meet the demands of severely mentally ill persons – along the lines of the one that works to provide opportunities for persons with disability.

“Once this psychological disorder sets in, the patient has to struggle for some of the most crucial years of his/her life where they would otherwise be engaged in developing their careers. While the person needs support, it is unfair to grade the level of the disease and then issue identity cards after three to five years. Persons with disabilities are issued identity cards and the holder of the card is urged to provide proof of his/her condition. Those with severe mental illness need lifelong support and hence these issues should be acknowledged while issuing identity cards,” Deshmukh said.

The parents’ support group said the premiums for health insurance policies for mental disorders were not affordable. They have urged that the premium fee be pegged at Re 1 just like the Pradhan Mantri crop insurance scheme wherein farmers have to pay a nominal amount. Deshmukh also said that antipsychotic drugs should be provided at discounted rates.

Another parent, Sangeeta Ambadkar, spoke about the Kimaya Cafe that is being managed by the Kiran support group. “Located near Pune Municipal Corporation, the cafe is being run by persons who are dealing with severe mental illness but have coped with the day-to-day demands of their job. They are now able to earn their own living,” Ambadkar said, adding that they were assisted by CSR funds from Bajaj Auto.

“We hope more such entrepreneurs come forward to provide employment for persons with mental illness,” Deshmukh added. For that purpose, the support group also demanded that the government should provide attractive tax incentives or other concessions to private establishments that can provide employment to the disabled on a priority basis.