Mental Health For All

Mental health is an issue that in one way or another affects us all. Mental illnesses are a diverse range of conditions affecting people across the life course, from autism and intellectual disability in childhood, to depression, substance abuse and psychoses in adulthood to dementia in old age. Given this diversity it is not surprising, then, that it is estimated that at least 1 in 10 persons worldwide is directly affected by a mental illness.

Apart from the astonishing numbers mental illnesses are also associated with reduced life expectancy, both due to direct causes such as suicide, as well as the poorer physical health and poorer quality medical care often associated with persons with mental illness. The combined contribution to reduced life expectancy and poorer quality of life leads them to contribute to about 15% of the overall global burden of disease.

The major issue, from a global perspective, is not only the enormous burden and overwhelming numbers of people affected by these problems, but that the vast majority of these persons do not receive the care we know can greatly improve their lives. Currently, India has the highest rate of youth suicide in the world, standing at 35.5 persons for every 100,000. Globally, there is 1 suicide occurring every 40 seconds.

The MINDS Foundation India is committed to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illness through education and providing access to cost-effective, high-quality care. Founded in March 2012, MINDS India develops evidence-based educational programming for rural communities, teachers, physicians, and schoolchildren.

In order to sustain long-term change, MINDS has also developed a training module for empowering health workers in the community to take on the role of CMHW (Community Mental Health Worker). CMHW works alongside our clinical partners in order to provide access to medical care for those identified as being in need within the communities.

Additionally, the CMHW takes on the role of sustaining our efforts by continuing mental health education in their communities, organizing peer-support groups, collecting data, and assisting those receiving treatment with their prognosis and treatment plans. Our vision is to create an environment in which anyone can seek the mental health care they need without feeling ashamed or embarrassed.

To date, MINDS has been able to educate over 250,000 individuals in 150 communities. MINDS has been able to provide mental health education to 260 schools consisting of 50,000 schoolchildren and 7500 teachers.

Since it’s inception, one of the driving forces of MINDS has been it’s research and development. To date, MINDS has published 18 studies in internationally-recognized medical journals and has had 135 international and domestic volunteers take part with grassroots research on-the-ground.