The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Law & Order

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 09, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Law & Order

More than a 100 mentally-ill, homeless people have been rescued and are being cared for, thanks to an initiative launched in 2004, says L. Srikrishna

For mentally ill, helpline makes a difference

The joint initiative of the Chennai city police, the Institute of Mental Health and The Banyan to rescue wandering persons with mental illness has made a difference to the lives of over 100 homeless persons in the city.

The project, which began in December 2004, is not only helping the sick and needy, but also prevented mentally ill women from sexual exploitation.

The Mental Health Helpline, which is manned by staff of The Banyan, can be reached at the special telephone number 100. They have been receiving around 30 rescue calls per month.

Some 383 persons were rescued and admitted to the Institute of Mental Health between December 2004 and August 2006, said Helpline Co-ordinator Sajitha.

Speaking to The Hindu , she said the persons picked up were in the age group 18 to 60.

Despite several limitations, the fact that the social workers are providing the maximum care to the victims in getting them to the IMH has come in for appreciation from the top brass of the city police.

A senior police officer said when a call was received about a woman or a girl being found wandering in the city and her behaviour seemed abnormal, police rescued them. The Commissioner of Police issues reception orders, a legal prerequisite for admission of homeless mentally ill persons to care centres, and they are taken there for providing basic facilities.

While admitting that the procedures to be followed in admitting a mentally ill person into the IMH or any other centre for treatment and rehabilitation was cumbersome and needs to be simplified, he said, "we cannot take chances as it may be viewed as illegal and cause other legal problems."

The Banyan is currently conducting an interactive training programme for the policemen and officers on core issues connected with handling mentally ill persons.

Ms Sajitha said they had identified nearly 350 officers in the Chennai city police and Railway Police in the rank of Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors who would be trained to protect the homeless persons with mental illness.

`Police role vital'

Most of the patients picked up in the city are rescued from Central Railway Station, Parrys, Beach and Tambaram. Hence, the role of the police is vital, she said.

Apart from The Banyan staff, psychiatrist Dr Anand Balan, advocate Sunder and street theatre artists are in the panel.

Social worker Mythili Sriram of Chennai has been supporting The Banyan in coordinating with the police for such training programmes, she added.

To date, the Helpline has made a difference to lives of more than 120 homeless persons with mental illness and hopes to continue its yeomen service in the public interest.

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