RM Hospital planning to sell the product made by indoor patients to boost confidence

Art helping mentally ill patients to come out of their isolated world

It was the day different from usual at Regional Mental Hospital (RMH) where patients with mental illness were happily dancing and singing to the tunes of their favourite songs, making block paintings and much more. Its a kind of refreshment and rehabilitation activity for them that helps to pull such patients out of their isolated world.

On Saturday, JCI Nagfeme along with the hospital authorities organised ‘Women empowerment and girl skill development programme’ by giving training session of block and screening printing under the guidance of Dr Harsha Jharia for the female indoor patients at  RMH.

Arjun (name changed), a mentally ill patient who was admitted to RMH at the age of 10, now works with an NGO.  Psychiatric in-charge and deputy superintendent Dr Praveen Navkhare said that he basically hailed from Calcutta. “Through rehabilitation and such mind engaging activities, we infused confidence in him. Such things help patients to at-least start working for themselves.”

There are several kinds of mental disorder among which few are un-treatable. “But we are planning to increase and to commercialise such activities to generate a source of income for them”, he said.

At the skill based training session, around 30 women patients learned various techniques.

Shubra Gawai, a patient who is here for last 19 years was over flowing with joy as she watches a piece of cloth with a block printing done by her.

“I have no home outside. I don’t know where is my family and who dropped me here. But see my painting, isn’t it beautiful?”, asked the patient.

RMH medical superintendent Dr Madhuri Thorat said, mentally ill patients have social skills deficits such as an inability to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions appropriately. “Skill based training are important in the process of recovery and as it can help them learn specific skills needed to live, learn and work in the community with minimum support”, she added.

We have started a bakery unit, food centre which will be operated by the patient itself. Our duty is not just to give medicine, but also to make them stand on their own, aleast financially, mentioned Dr Madhuri Thorat