Sisters of the Divine Saviour of Jeevandhara Rehabilitation Centre for mentally challenged women, with the World Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation – Indian Chapter has conducted one day programme as “Gothra Resha – (means Save the Tribals)”on 24th May 2014 on “Mental illness and monsoon disorders” for village tribal animators at Mananthavady.

Dr. VK Radhakrishnan, emphasized how patients can lead social life with schizophrenia and also about the importance of rehabilitation and family support. Around 45 village animators have participated in this program. They were happy and said that it was very educative and informative. They requested the sisters to conduct awareness program at the grass root level for the family members in order to remove the social stigma that prevails in the society regarding the mental illness.

On 25th May 2014, the sisters Sr. Ancy Kurian, Sr. Luis Mary and Sr. Madhu have organised a seminar for the family members of our inmates as part of Schizophrenics day Celebration at Jeevandhara Rehabilitation Centre. There was an input session on “Recovery and Reorganisation in Schizophrenics” by Dr. VK Radhakrishnan president of World Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation – Indian Chapter.

20 family members of the inmates of our centre have participated in this seminar. They were very grateful and it was a help for the family members to know how to take care of their own people at home who are mentally ill. Because mental illness is one of the sickness like any other illness. Family members have the significant role for the rehabilitation of their dear ones who is sick with mental illness. The purpose of the seminar was to help them how to rehabilitate our inmates back to their own families to be accepted and cared like other members in their family.

At present our centre is fully occupied with 25 inmates. We the Sisters of the Divine Saviour in Manathavady community are very happy to do this service especially to help these suffering women and to witness the charism of our Foundress Mother Alphonse Marie, as we celebrate this year her 200th birthday.

“No effort, no exertion and no sacrifice should be too much for you when it is demanded by the love for your neighbour” MAM. “God is with you, and from time to time he will allow you to experience his presence” MAM.

These thoughts of Mother Alphonse Marie encourage and give us inspiration to involve in this challenging mission.