Mental Health Care 
Through Community Participation
Dr Manoj Kumar
Mehac Foundation
Instt. of Palliative Medicine, Calicut

Mehac aims to deliver good quality community mental health care
It is care that we would like to receive for ourselves or would like our family to receive.
The service is only for the economically deprived sections of the society as care has to be rationed.
Relapse prevention is the key to sustained good mental health
14 clinics; most use palliative care facilities,
2 for mostly tribal patients;
1 in-reach service to an institution
Work with local partners who provide:
Infrastructure for consultations
Access to and organisation of volunteers
Provision of free medicines
+/- rehabilitation, social care, incl. food etc
Agreement that service is limited to the poor
Demographics
Nearly 715 patients seen
Age range – 7 yrs to 85 yrs
Nearly 200 volunteers totally

Formation of Palliative Care Club at IES Public School, Chittilappilly, Thrissur.
An orientation programme was given to 70 students from 4 divisions of 9th standard. The importance of continuing the club by the students was stressed by the Palliative Care Volunteers. Mr. Sasikumaran Raja, Mr. Raghunath, Ms. Vijayalakshmi and Dr. Kumudam Unni took the class.
The students will be given a two-day training in palliative care, in batches of 20 students each. The students showed a keen interest in participating and it is our intention to include maximum number of students in this programme.

An introductory class on palliative care was given to 120 students of Model Boys High School, Thrissur. The classes were taken by Dr. E. Divakaran, Director, Instt. of Palliative Care, Ms. Vijayalakshmi and Lissy Teacher.

Communication Class for 15 students of BCCPN (Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Nursing) and BCCPAN (Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Auxilliary Nursing) by Mr. Mohammed Saif of Calicut Palliative Society was conducted at our Institute.

A class was conducted for 100 pupils of Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thrissur. Palliative Club was formed and training will be conducted on 08.1.2011.

A class was conducted for around 200 students of Model Girls Higher Secondary School, Thrissur. A Club was formed there and training will be given.

A class was conducted for 150 students of Sacred Heart Convent Girls Higher Secondary School. A training for 15 students will be conducted on 08.1.2011.

A class was conducted for 100 students of St. Clare's Convent, Thrissur. Palliative Club was formed and training will be given.

A class was conducted for 120 students of Holy Family Convent, Thrissur. Palliative Club was formed and training will be given.

The South Indian Bank Officers' Association (S.I.B.O.A) and  South Indian Bank Employees' Association (S.I.B.E.A) together gave a donation for the Kidney Patients' Welfare Trust. The Secretary of S.I.B.O.A., Sri. Verghese K.D. talked about the increasing interest in Trade Unions in cultivating social responsibilities. Others who attended include Mr. T.D. Jose, President, S.I.B.E.A, Mr. C.L. John, Mr. Peter Anto and Mr. C.V. Jose.

Six students of Model Boys' High School, nine students of Model Girls' High School and fifteen students from Sacred Heart Convent and one teacher from each school attended one-day training at Palliative Centre, Thrissur. The following topics were taught:

   Introduction to Palliative Care
   Vision
   Facilities
   How to identify patients in neighbourhood.

Lift ,Generator & Physiotherapy Unit Inaguration

The Physiotherapy Centre is fully functional with a  physiotherpist on duty on Thursdays and Saturdays.On an average,4 to 5 patients come on these days.The cost of setting up of the unit was shared by South Indian Bank Employees Assocication and Lioners club of Thrissur,the shres being 1,00,000/- and 75,000/- respectively.