Shanmugakani, a 30-year-old woman exhibiting symptoms like self-talk, self-laugh, poor self-care, suspicious thoughts, and irritability, was rescued in March 2022. The ECRC team, in coordination with the Sollavandhan police, admitted her after following proper legal procedures.

Upon admission, Mrs. Shanmugakani initially showed withdrawal and disengagement. However, a structured approach that included medication, counseling, and vocational training gradually led to her improvement. She exhibited remarkable talent in crafting, boosting her confidence. Her active participation in daily activities and grooming helped her reintegrate into the community at ECRC.

The ECRC team eventually located Mrs. Shanmugakani’s family in Salem, and after witnessing her remarkable transformation, they welcomed her back with open arms. She continued to enhance her skills and creativity through vocational training and even started teaching others. With proper medication and support, she made a full recovery and happily reunited with her family, marking a heartwarming success story of rehabilitation and reintegration

.Mrs. Shanmugakani’s success story is a testament to the Emergency Care and Recovery Centre’s (ECRC) mission of rescuing and rehabilitating individuals with mental illness. ECRC, a collaborative effort by the National Health Mission, the Institute of Mental Health, The Banyan, and the Tamil Nadu Government, operates in 12 districts.

Papul Saikia, aged 42, was initially discovered in a distressed state near Tallakulam Police Station, exhibiting aggressive behavior and talking loudly to himself. The Red Cross team encountered him and, through compassionate interaction, learned about his mental health issues. He was subsequently admitted to the Emergency Care and Recovery Centre (ECRC) on September 2, 2022, where a comprehensive assessment revealed symptoms of schizophrenia that had troubled him for nearly a year.

Initially, Papul exhibited reluctance to engage with others, often wandering aimlessly and talking to himself. The ECRC team provided tailored bio-psycho-social therapeutic intervention, counseling, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training, and vocational skills. With professional care, his symptoms improved, and his condition stabilized.

Simultaneously, the ECRC team located Papul’s family in Assam, informing them of his progress. The family was shocked to hear of his situation but traveled to Madurai for a heartwarming reunion, facilitated by Dr. S. Aneesh Sekhar, District Collector of Madurai. Papul and his family expressed gratitude for his rescue and rehabilitation.

Reunited with his family, Papul Saikia has made significant strides in his recovery, securing a day job and maintaining savings for future support. His journey from distress to stability showcases the transformative power of mental health care and the crucial role played by the ECRC team in restoring his life.

He was a familiar sight in a well known residential area in Madurai. Matted and tangled hair, dirty torn clothes, a glazed look in his eyes, often muttering and laughing all by himself… his body and mind may have been battered beyond recognition by the ravages of mental illness, but his soul was still unharmed… needless to say, most passersby ignored him and went on with their busy lives… Anonymous, alone and adrift, he would have been yet another nameless faceless statistic—just one among the 10 million homeless wandering mentally ill persons in the country.

Fortunately, he was rescued by the team from Chellamuthu Trust, Madurai, and taken to the rescue and rehabilitation home for the wandering mentally ill persons. Renamed Shanmugam, he was provided acute psychiatric medical care. Gradually, over a period of one month, Shanmugam’s symptoms began to subside and he seemed to recover aspects of his self and reclaim his identity as Ramanathan, who lived in Chennai.

He recalled his father’s phone number and that his father worked in a pharmacy in Chennai. Armed with this vital piece of information, the staff of Chellamuthu Trust contacted the father. Meanwhile Ramanathan was given appropriate rehabilitation that also included sufficient training in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as self-care, dressing and grooming. Ramanathan’s father was overjoyed to know the whereabouts of his son. He told the MSCT&RF staff that Ramanathan was being treated in Chennai for schizophrenia. However, one day he suddenly wandered out of the house and could not be traced. The desperate father lodged an FIR (First Information Report) with the police but was unable to trace him.

On World Schizophrenia Day on March 25, 2015, Ramanathan was reunited with his family. Currently he is symptom-free and works in a pharmacy in Chennai. A diagnosis of mental illness is not a full stop to life. With timely and appropriate interventions, there is life after mental illness… a quality of life that enables the affected persons to live with dignity and well being.

Rajeswari, now 48, exudes serenity and grace, a stark contrast to her tumultuous past. Adorned in a neat maroon sari, she relishes her time with her 13-year-old daughter, Varsha, who is visiting for the summer holidays. Rajeswari resides in a home for individuals with mental disabilities operated by the M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation in Madurai.

Rajeswari’s journey is intertwined with her elder sister, Meenakshi, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. At 15, Rajeswari began showing symptoms of the same illness. Their father, a bank official, sought help from MSCT&RF for both daughters. Rajeswari responded better to treatment than her sister.

Her life took a challenging turn when her family concealed her psychiatric illness and arranged her marriage, resulting in divorce and separation from her daughter’s father. Rajeswari recognizes the importance of transparency in her medical history now.

After her father’s death, the sisters faced eviction by their landlord and reluctance from extended family. They endured a traumatic period in an orphanage in Chennai before fleeing to escape harassment by a friend’s husband. Seeking refuge, they arrived at MSCT&RF, where they were welcomed by Dr. C. Ramasubramanian (Dr. CRS) in 2012. Since then, this place has been their sanctuary.

Regular medication and appropriate psychosocial rehabilitation have effectively managed their illness. Rajeswari, skilled in drawing and tailoring, works in the tailoring unit and enjoys cooking traditional Tamil Brahmin cuisine. Varsha attends a nearby residential school, and their close bond is evident.

Rajeswari aspires for her daughter to become a scientist, hoping to challenge misconceptions about mental illness. Her journey sheds light on the vulnerabilities faced by individuals with mental disabilities, particularly women, emphasizing the importance of supportive spaces and the need to address the social stigma and identity loss that often accompany mental illness.