New Centre Boosts Mental Health and Livelihoods

A significant step towards comprehensive mental well-being has been taken with the inauguration of the Centre for Mental Health, Social Care, and Livelihoods and its associated Last Mile Mental Health and Social Care Praxis Lab. This initiative, spearheaded by Chennai-based NGOs The Banyan and Aaladamara Foundation, aims to integrate clinical, social, and economic support systems. The centre's approach spans five critical areas: income security, social protection, sustainable livelihoods, relational stability, and access to healthcare, with a special focus on supporting vulnerable caregivers.

The accompanying praxis lab will delve into the impact of social determinants and structural violence, such as poverty and homelessness, on mental health care. Experts highlighted that information asymmetry and existing societal inequalities can hinder the effectiveness of social care. The importance of community-level engagement through village panchayats and self-help groups was also emphasized as crucial for service delivery and raising mental health awareness.