The MINDS Foundation, a nonprofit located in India, uses a grassroots approach to eliminate stigma, provide mental health education, and create a world in which those with mental illness have access. (1) The organization conducts ongoing research and develops curriculum to expand education about mental health and increase the number of trained staff who can support patients suffering from mental illness. MINDS works with a broad team of directors, advisors, field workers and assistants and receives support through a variety of foundations, grants and NGOs. Since its creation in 2010 by Raghu Appasani, MINDS has increased the level of education and treatment with regards to mental illness, overcoming many of the challenges of rural health work in India.
Contents
Approach
Focusing on the root cause of stigma
Issue to Impact Research
At MINDS we understand the unique nature and diversity throughout the communities in India. It is not possible nor is it effective to incorporate one rigid model of mental health education and care. Therefore, we are proud to state that all of our programming is based upon extensive research and data collection. A needs assessment is at the foundation of our program design process. Continuing monitoring and evaluation of our programs once they are implemented is essential to improving and providing communities what they truly need.
Capacity Building
Community Mental Health Workers: We hire and train community members to be mental health workers. The community mental health workers (CMHWs) are at the frontline of our programs. They use their familiarity with the community and leverage their social networks so that we may efficiently reach more people. Furthermore, they support patients through their recovery and continue to educate the community about mental health by hosting workshops and peer support groups. This program not only allows us to increase access to care but mobilizes the community to take charge and improve the health of their own members. Investing in local stakeholders allows us to have a long-term impact.
Community Education
Research suggests that lack of health education in rural India contributes to serious misunderstandings, stigma and denial about the existence and causes of mental illness. According to current studies, psychologists believe education programs about mental illness are one of the most effective ways to reduce this stigma and encourage patients to receive the treatment they need. We believe that education surrounding mental health is a critical component that needs to be addressed in order to diminish the stigma surrounding it. In order to address this component, we organize evidence-based mental health education workshops in rural villages. Our team works closely with CMHWs and local village leaders to establish a relationship allowing us to host impactful educational programming. Workshops include discussion, Q&A, visual aids, street plays, interaction with mental health professionals, and a video documentary explaining and depicting mental health symptoms and disorders. The community is provided with a list of resources as well as being left with visual aids and educational materials.
School Education Program
India has the highest rate of youth suicide in the world standing at 35.5 per 100,000 individuals. The lack of mental health education and resources is a major contributing factor. Additionally, the modernization and urbanization of progressive Indian youth is at a constant clash with traditionalist household values adding to the anxiety and stress many youth already face. Research has shown that many signs and symptoms of mental illness begin to arise during youth and adolescence. Hence, we at MINDS believe that we must provide mental health education to children in order to instill proper help-seeking behavior and reduction in stigmas and negative attitudes towards mental disorders. Since 2016, MINDS has been providing mental health education workshops in rural schools servicing the primary as well as secondary schools.
Access to care
We are committed to providing only the most high-quality care. MINDS does not have a healthcare facility nor does it directly provide medical care. Instead, we network with local clinics servicing village communities in which we work. Community members and CMHW, trained by MINDS, refer those they feel need assistance. Thereafter, our team provides an initial counselling session and works with patients to assist them in getting the proper care they need. This entails linking them with government schemes as well as with local health clinics. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 70-90% of all global mentally ill patients who receive treatment partially or completely recover.
Programs and Research
In addition to the three-phase program running in villages across Gujarat, India, MINDS continually develops programs and conducts research to expand programing. Below is a summary of current, developing programing.
Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) Training Community Mental Health Workers (CMHWs) work as advisors and mentors in each village where MINDS programming is run. The CMHWs go through extensive training that focuses on identifying mental illness, connecting patients to hospital care, advising and educating families of mentally ill, supporting our model, as above. The training for CMHWs was developed in partnership with the Nossal Institute for Global Health, adapted from An Introduction to Mental Health: Facilitator’s Manual for Training Community Health Workers in India by the Nossal Institute for Global Health & BasicNeeds
Teacher Training Currently MINDS is developing a training program, based on the WHO advocation of Task-Shifting, which trains teachers at local schools to identify and support mentally ill youth. The program follows a four-step model focused on understanding why mental illness is a problem, identifying possible signs of mental illness in students, supporting students through active listening and de-stigmatization of classrooms and referring students to CMHWs for further consolation and screening.
Gender Workshops Additionally, MINDS is considering how discussions and education about gender-specific concerns surrounding mental illness and well-being could further deepen the Phase 1 programming.
Published Research Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Clinical Depression Among Health Providers in Gujarat, India.
Perceptions of Traditional Healing for Mental Illness in Rural Gujarat.
Organization and Administration
In order to manage field work, project development and research, MINDS has a multi-level organizational system that combines full-time employees with professional volunteers and advisors around the world. The core team, associates and field team manage the non-profit, monitor the three-phase education treatment & reintegration program and organize ongoing research. The Global and Indian Board of Directors, consisting of notable professors and professionals, monitor the progress of MINDS and support the key values of the NGO. Lastly, the Advisors offer professional advice for program development and research.
In addition to the year-round team, board and advisors, MINDS runs a Leadership Development Development Program where interns from across the US partner with members of the core team to receive training and hands-on experience in marketing, publicity, research and program development. The program aims to develop future leaders in the non-profit arena.
For students and professionals looking for field experience, the MINDS Fellowship Program allows volunteers to work in Gujarat on research and programing projects.
History
The MINDS Foundation was founded as nonprofit in August 2010 and is registered in Massachusetts as an NGO; additionally it partners with an 80G registered-NGO of the same name located in India, and thus is run through global offices.
In India, there is no official mental health policy and resources are extremely limited, with only 0.3 psychiatrists/100,000 people and just 0.06% of the national health budget going towards mental illness education and treatment. Furthermore, rural areas in India tend to be some of the most neglected: out of 626 districts in India, only 125 have any sort of mental health program in place. Despite the lack of national resources and funding, "mental illness constitutes nearly one sixth of all health-related disorders". Therefore, health resources in India are usually funded, provided and accessed through the private sector.
Founder & CEO, Raghu Appasani, is a One Young World Delegate and Ambassador who presented at OYW 2016 in Ottawa.
Partners and Sponsors
Foundations of Partnership
We look for partners who share the same vision as The MINDS Foundation – a commitment to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness. We believe that the impact necessary to create a world in which anyone can seek the help they need can only be done by partnering with local communities, activists, thought leaders, academic institutions, and passionate individuals.
The MINDS Foundation partners with Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for program advice, research, and review. MINDS also partners with GMERS-Gotri, located in Vadodara.
The MINDS Foundation has a campus chapter at Wesleyan University
The MINDS Foundation also receives sponsorship, funding or donations from: The Mentor Network, The International Monetary Fund, Newman's Own Foundation, Gray Matters Capital, Google Grants, Hill Holiday, Korn Ferry International, Podio, The Salesforce Foundation, Fried Frank Legal Support, Proskauer Rose LLP, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Health Radio, The Next Mile Project, the Partricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship, MC Mass Challenge, Dell Social Innovation Challenge, StartingBloc, mHealth Alliance and the Gulbenkian Mental Health Platform.