SEVAC ( Sane & Enthusiast Volunteers Association )
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to bring about a tangible change in the existing mental health care delivery system of our country putting emphasis on the human rights promotion of the persons with mental illness. It is evident that mental health is one of the most neglected areas in the existing healthcare delivery system in our country. Despite lofty commitments on the part of the state and proclamation of stringent Acts and Policies mental patients in our country are one of the vulnerable groups from the view point of human rights violations. As a matter of fact a large number of mental patients live in a deplorable state and without having any access to psychiatric and psychological care they become a burden upon their respective families as well as upon the society as a whole. Thus huge potential human resources simply go waste. Keeping this reality in view since the year 1991 SEVAC (Sane & Enthusiast Volunteers’ Association of Calcutta) has been implementing a multidimensional project for the uninterrupted psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation and human rights promotion of the persons with mental illness . The main components of the said project are as follows. We run a 100 Bedded Mental Health Facility-cum-Halfway Home for the treatment of the acute patients and residential care of the recovered and stable patients coming from the economically disadvantaged sections . Our institution is located in Kolkata. Precisely the overall ambiance, which we have created therein cannot be easily found elsewhere. We operate a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre, which is known as SEVAC Clubhouse of India. In this context it is noteworthy that ‘Clubhouse Model’ is an internationally accepted rehabilitation model, which is being practiced in 32 countries across the globe. Recently WHO has also recognized this model as an effective rehabilitation model for the persons with mental illness. From the Fountain House (New York) this model was developed six decades ago and gradually spread in different parts of the world. Currently, a body called Clubhouse International has set some operational guidelines and standards to enable all the clubhouses of the world to work uniformly for facilitating the psychosocial rehabilitation of the persons with mental illness. In a clubhouse setup the persons suffered from mental illness are called ‘members’ . They come to the clubhouse to spend meaningful time in a dignified way. They play a vital role to operate and manage a clubhouse. A ‘work order’ is followed in every clubhouse setup. It is our humble mention that SEVAC Clubhouse is the first and only accredited Clubhouse in India ( most probably in the Indian Subcontinent too) . We also undertake different programmers and activities to reach out the mental patients who languish in a subhuman state in some shrines and in different custodial and correctional institutions across the country. We have also been working relentlessly to fight mental illness related stigma, spread mental health awareness / education and intensify and effective advocacy to raise voice for addressing all mental health issues as human rights issues. Thus we try to uphold our mission.
About This Cause
Magnitude of mental health problem is colossal across the world. India is no exception. According to a modest assessment one to two percent people are suffering from severe mental illnesses and around twenty percent people need mental health care. According to the WHO, Mental Illness will be one of the most life calming factors in near future. WHO has also published a list of 10 major causes of disability. In this list Mental Illness has occupied 5 positions . It is really alarming that children and adolescents are now one of the most vulnerable groups from the view point of mental illnesses. Hence SEVAC ( Sane and Enthusiast Volunteers Association of Calcutta ) has been working in the area of Mental Health and Human Rights for the last 30 years. It is registered under the Society Registration Act and Foreign Currency Regulation Act ( FCRA). Donation given to SEVAC is exempted under section 80G of the Income Tax Act. From the very beginning we have put emphasis on the identification, uninterrupted treatment, rehabilitation and human rights promotion of the persons with mental illness coming from the disadvantaged sections. We run OPD ( Out Patients’ Department) , a 100 bedded Residential Mental Health Facility and Rehabilitation Centre to bring the persons with mental illness under Psychiatric & Psychological Care. We also set into operation some Satellite Psychiatric Clinics in different Correctional/ Custodial Institutions and Shrines because a large number of mental patients languish therein in a subhuman state. In our Mental Health Facility we have earmarked a Ward for the treatment of the elderly people suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and other geriatric mental health problems. Community Based Rehabilitation Programme and Reach-out Service are also two important components of our project. It is evident that Rehabilitation Facility for the persons with mental illness is almost nonexistent in our country. Hence we have introduced a Rehabilitation Model in our country which is known as ‘CLUBHOUSE’. This is a Work Therapy Based Model which is being practiced in 32 countries across the world. WHO ( World Health Organization ) has also recognized this model . It is our humble mention that our activities have earned accolades both from the National and International quarters. We are the Voting Member of the ‘World Federation for Mental Health’. The ‘Clubhouse International’ has recognized our Rehabilitation Centre as an ‘Accredited Clubhouse’. As a matter of fact a large number of mental patients who came under the purview of treatment and rehabilitation programme of SEVAC have been mainstreamed and leading a symptom free dignified life. Many of them either have returned to their previous profession or found new job. Precisely the ambiance , which we have created at SEVAC cannot be easily found elsewhere. From the very beginning SEVAC took many path breaking initiatives and implemented some unique projects i.e " Operation Oasis", " Operation Dignity", " Operation Commitment " to bring about a change in the deplorable mental health scenario of our country. " Delhi Declaration on Mental Health " was also made and published following our persistent and national level advocacy. We have also been fighting against the mental illness related stigma and sensitizing the community regarding the fact that ‘ Mental illness is an ‘ILLNESS ‘ which is 'TREATABLE' and 'CURABLE' from all possible corner. But we are sorry to say that only due to the dearth of adequate financial support it has been very difficult for us to run the show. Hence we request all benevolent individuals and institutions to extend support to SEVAC to enable us to continue our arduous task for the persons with mental illness.