'Navachetana'- a home for homeless mentally ill women

ASHADEEP, through its programme Navachetana, rescues homeless mentally ill women from the streets of Guwahati. At Navachetana, they undergo a process of rehabilitation with the objective of reintegrating them back with their families.

Rescue of homeless mentally ill women usually takes place through various sources :-

»	The general public
»	The Police and District Administrations
»	Staff Members of Ashadeep
»	Referral from the Ashadeep’s Outdoor and Outreach Programmes
»	Referral from Shelter Homes for destitute both in the Government and Non Government sectors

The initial procedures that are followed with the administration upon rescue are

»	Assessment and Certification by a Consultant Psychiatrist
»	Filing record of the rescue with the nearest police station

Once these procedures are in place the process of care, rehabilitation, reintegration and follow up begins.

Care

»	Hygiene, Food, Shelter
»	Psychiatric and Medical Assessment by Consultant doctors
»	HIV and VDRL tests for all and Pregnancy test when required
»	Medical and Pathological tests when required
»	Psychiatric & Medical Treatment by Consultant doctors
»	Gynaecological assessment and Treatment when required

Rehabilitation process with assessment at each stage

»	One to one counseling for identifying home and background.
»	Assessment of clinical condition
»	Assessment of living skills - individual plans developed
»	Assessment of vocational skills for livelihood - very limited, expert interventions required
»	Occupational activity - with various vocations such as house hold work kitchen, gardening, needle work, knitting, jute work, music, dance and other therapeutical activity

Reintegration with family

»	When families are traced they are requested to come to Navachetana or our staff visits them to enquire
»	A person is discharged only when minimum living skills are acquired
»	At the time of discharge, persons with mental illness are given a month's medication.
»	At the time of discharge, authentication, photograph of family members and communication details are obtained.
»	The case is closed at the Police Station where the original entry, pertaining to the individual woman, was made.
»	The families are also requested to report to Ashadeep regularly.
»	In some situations, the staff members of Ashadeep periodically return to the families to monitor the progress of the affected individual.
»	Communication with the families is also maintained regularly.

Follow up

»	Regular follow up through our OPD Creating awareness of the person's condition among family members and convincing them about the importance of continuing medication.
»	Giving the family members support and help on how to manage and cope with the affected person
»	Looking into other psychosocial aspects, for e.g. trying to work out occupational activities /livelihood generation means which are suitable for the affected individual.
»	The possibility of livelihood generation means for other family members of the affected person are also explored. This is important because it is often poverty which does not allow the proper care of the affected person.
»	Family is requested to contact personally or over phone for follow up advice and medication.
»	Contact family by our staff by phone or visit.