4 December 2020
The onset of the pandemic has seen a sharp spike on the mental health issues in the country. The fear of contracting the disease, loss of work and income; separation from families such as for migrant workers and their family members; short supply of food, poor access to social entitlements, disruption in the education of the children; loneliness and lack of adequate support for the aged, single women, or those with disabilities have all aggravated the crisis. The continuing uncertainties around a way forward offers little respite.
While the need for mental health care systems are high, in India, especially in rural areas, access to care continues to be a daunting challenge. Sherina Poyyail writing on COVID-19-related mental health crisis cites a 2011 study, which notes that only 125 out of India’s 626 districts had the District Mental Health Program operational. In rural areas, there were only ‘only 0.2 psychiatrists, 0.05 psychiatric nurses and 0.03 psychologists per 100,000 people.’
Given the context, local community organisations reaching grassroots communities with counselling, care and support can fill the gaping hole in the availability of institutional or professional mental health care services.
The nonprofit, Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) has been working in rural Odisha to provide psychosocial counselling to families and individuals during the pandemic. They build capacities of Community Resource Persons (CRPs) to help individuals deal with the emotional and mental health challenges caused or aggravated due to the pandemic.
Jemamani Mahanta, CRP from CYSD, was among 30 others who received training during the three-day virtual orientation programme on psycho-social support in September. She says, “I came across households being ostracised as they had a Corona patient in their family, while some were ostracised because a family member struggled with mental health. When I reach out to such families, they begin to open up and discuss their problems. They become hopeful because they begin to trust me and that de-stresses them a lot.”
Hemalata , a CRP from CYSD speaking about her experience during awareness programs in villages, had this to say, “When I explain to families about our Helpline number and the confidentiality it provides while offering emotional support, the women members in the family feel happy that such a service is now available in their area and are eager to know more about it. They tell me that a non - judgemental and anonymous service like our helpline number would be beneficial to those who feel depressed, low or suicidal.”
CYSD’s programme and outreach makes counselling and support accessible and available to the rural poor in Odisha, for whom such care services are otherwise unavailable or beyond their reach.
CYSD is a member of the Odisha Chapter of the RCRC, a coalition of 65 civil society organisations supporting the rural poor, marginalised communities through direct action, research and policy advocacy, to respond to the devastating disruption caused by COVID-19.
