Awareness

There is a lot of ignorance regarding mental illness in the Indian society. Persons with mental disabilities and their families still experience stigma and discrimination on a daily basis. Many people have internalised the stigma, and are afraid to voice their concerns, or seek support.

Creating awareness and dissemination of information on different aspects of mental health (as mentioned below) is one of our key areas of work:

  • Common mental disorders
  • Severe mental illnesses
  • Rights of persons with mental disabilities
  • Rehabilitation of persons with mental disabilities

We use activities and tools like webinars / seminars, videos, posters and presentations, case studies, films and documentaries, social media and book reviews to carry out awareness.

Mental Health Awareness Workshops

  • We have been conducting mental health awareness workshops with various departments such as civil administration, police, Govt school teachers & students, university students and other govt institutes/departments.
  • We have been working in collaboration with Malerkotla and Fatehgarh Sahib district administrations.
  • We have conducted workshops with the students of University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), Centre for Human Rights and Duties and Centre for Social Work Panjab University, Chandigarh.
  • Recently, Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation (PSIEC) also invited Pushpanjali Trust for conducting a two day mental well-being sessions for their staff.
  • We have been getting a tremendous response for these workshops/sessions. We are able to sensitize a large chunk of people about their personal mental health and people working around them. 

Citizens for Inclusive Living

‘Citizens for Inclusive Living’ (CIL) is a new initiative of Pushpanjali Trust. CIL was incubated in 2021 as a mass movement for the welfare and inclusion of persons with mental disabilities in Chandigarh Tricity. It has now grown to be an association of over 150 students, professionals, social workers, persons with mental disabilities and their caregivers and concerned citizens.

Member of Citizens for Inclusive Living releasing a proposal for a group home.
Member of Citizens for Inclusive Living releasing a proposal for a group home.

We conducted several public meetings of CIL and staged protests which led to the Chandigarh Administration constructing a group home in the city. We received a lot of support from the concerned citizens of Chandigarh Tricity.