Page 19 - Tata-Trusts-Annual-Report-2021-22

OF
HOPE

Udaan is a beacon of hope for

individuals struggling with mental illnesses

The social stigma surrounding mental health illnesses in India Following a similar incident, Sadik’s family was advised to visit
continues to prevent constructive and much-needed healthcare the Regional Mental Hospital in Nagpur (RMHN) to get help,

delivery in the field, as does the absence of supporting and where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The family had to
accessible infrastructure. This was the primary reason for Sadik discontinue treatment after some time, given the time and
Ali Shah’s (name changed) illness remaining undiagnosed and expense involved in travelling to RHMN on a regular basis.
untreated for years. His family’s poor financial condition and
negligible access to mental health resources at the primary care But a chance visit to the sub-district hospital in Kamptee put
level further worsened his condition. Sadik’s mother in touch with an ASHA worker who made the
family aware about the ongoing District Mental Health

A resident of Kamptee in Nagpur, Sadik lost his father at an early Programme (DMHP) being run under Tata Trusts’ Udaan—an
age. Having had a troubled childhood, he was forced to start innovative health initiative—to help the Maharashtra state
earning a living from the age of 12 years to support his family of government develop and implement critically needed mental
four, including his mother and three siblings. He found health programmes. As a result, Sadik was able to resume regular
employment in nearby factories and as a result missed out on any visits to the hospital for check-ups and counselling, as well as
formal education. procure his regular dose of medication.

Around the age of 16, Sadik started experiencing certain This has resulted in a huge di erence in Sadik’s condition, with
psychotic symptoms, including lethargy, unconsciousness, most of his psychotic symptoms having subsided. He has also

irritability, sleeplessness, lack of appetite, etc. His family found started working again at a nearby factory, and is in regular touch
him muttering to himself and claiming to hear voices that others with the Udaan team, who continue to conduct psychosocial
around him could not. In the absence of any formal clinical counselling with him, along with making his family more aware
examination and given his family’s general lack of awareness about his condition and the importance of family support,
about how to address his illness, Sadik’s condition exacerbated, maintaining regular medicine intake, and physical exercise for his
and he took to wandering aimlessly, very often losing his bearings eventual recovery.
and having to be located and brought back home.

3 GOOD HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING
PROJECT ALIGNS WITH SDG

ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 12