The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Campaign to change public’s attitude towards people with mental illness

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Thursday, Mar 06, 2008
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Campaign to change public’s attitude towards people with mental illness

Staff Reporter

D.G. Vaishnav College students and The Banyan hold sand sculpture exhibition to highlight issue

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

For a cause: Sand sculpture created on the Marina on Wednesday as part of a programme organised by the Post Graduate Department of Social Work of D.G. Vaishnav College and The Banyan.

CHENNAI: “Just because they are different doesn’t mean you can let them stay down, they are unique; they need to fly too. Reach out and touch,” read a poster on a unique sand sculpture on the sands of the Marina on Wednesday.

The words were that of Xyna Prasad, a student of Women Christian College. The sculpture was a special one made by students of the Fine Arts College to draw attention to the sensitive topic of mental illness.

It showed a man being abused on one side just because he was different. A reflection of the man was depicted on the other side, this time with a loving hand guiding him.

The event was organised by the Post Graduate Department of Social Work of D.G. Vaishnav College, in association with The Banyan, home for destitute mentally ill women.

Inaugurated

Inaugurating the ‘Mannil Malarndha Manangal’ sand sculpture exhibition, R. Sathianathen, Director, Institute of Mental Health, said the “concept was indeed novel.” “Most people, who come to the hospital with a mentally ill patient raise their eyebrows when they need to spend money on them. If the person was suffering from a heart condition they would not think twice about spending on the patient, only when it comes to a mental illness they consider it a huge burden,” he said, attributing this to the lack of awareness.

“Attitude has to be changed. Those with mental illnesses are abused and neglected. This change can only be brought about by creating greater sensitivity. The students have done a wonderful job in attempting to generate this reaction from the public,” he added.

Poster contest held

Chaitali Shetty of The Banyan said that earlier an inter-college poster competition had also been organised. “Mental illness and health are not talked about openly. This exhibition was organised to help remove the stigma attached to mental health,” she said.

By creating awareness and talking about mental illness the organisers and participants would remind people that every person, including those with mental illness, should be treated with dignity.

Ms. Chaitali insisted that such people be treated humanely. She noted how the students, who had taken part, had been out on the beach since Tuesday in their zest to achieve the mission of creating awareness.

Ms. Xyna, who won the poster competition, said that she wished more college culturals would deal with socially relevant issues.

“Most of us are not sensitive towards people with different needs, just because we consider ourselves normal. Students flock to other student programmes but at events like this you hardly see a handful of students. More exhibitions such as these need to be organised to make more students aware,” she said.

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