SLSA organizes Webinar on "Home Based Strategies to Handle and Care for Persons with Mental Illness"

By 121 News

Chandigarh October 10, 2020:- On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2020, under the guidance of Hon'ble  Justice Jaswant Singh, Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, U.T, Chandigarh, this Authority in collaboration with NGO Parivartan and Mental Health Institute, GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh organized a webinar on "Home Based Strategies to Handle and Care for Persons with Mental Illness".

This program was specifically designed for the caregivers of Persons with Mental Illness (PMIs) as how they took care of them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The related queries were handled by the panel of experts comprising of Dr. Subhash Das (Associate Professor, Psychiatry & MS, MHI), Ms. Shikha Tyagi ( Assistant Professor, PSW & General Secretary, Parivartan). Additionally the legal assistance and information was provided by lawyers from State Legal Services Authority (SLSA),  Rajeshwar Singh, Law Officer, SLSA, Chandigarh and Pardeep Kumar, Panel Lawyer, SLSA, Chandigarh.

The webinar generated lots of discussion and was very well received by the audience. Ms. Shikha described about the importance of family members and how crucial their role is at every step of life. She also briefed about the important steps that any family should try to take while taking care of PMI. Additionally, she also explained about how to tackle the symptoms of anxiety and what should not be said to patients with PMI that  can trigger stress in them.

Another expert, Dr. Das explained about how the family members can identify various signs and symptoms of the illness so that the PMI can receive treatment in a timely manner. He also talked about how the various side effects with treatment (medicines) can be identified and managed. Dr Das further announced starting telepsychosocial rehabilitation clinic with a hope that it will benefit persons with mental illness who are not able to attend day care services due to COVID 19 pandemic.

Rajeshwar Singh, Law Officer, SLSA, Chandigarh said the participants about the aims, objectives and the working of the Authority with specific reference to the NALSA(Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Disabled Persons) Scheme 2015.He specified that the objective of the Scheme is to ensure that the mentally ill or mentally disabled are not stigmatized and that they are dealt with as individuals who are to be helped to enforce all rights that they are entitled to and assured to them by law. He also guided them as to how they can approach for legal assistance, in this pandemic period by sharing the Helpline numbers of the Authority.

The caregivers also participated enthusiastically and their various queries were answered by the panelist up to their satisfaction. Pardeep Kumar, panel advocate replied to the queries which were put by the caregivers.