Work for mental illness

Mercy Home

Home for the Mentally ill: where in-house care is provided to the people with mental disorder.

Transforming communities through care and Counselling

In a country like India there is less social security or subsidised medical care. According to government of India in North India alone an estimated 720 million people live on less than 50 rupees a day (that’s more poor people than all of Africa put together). Many families are so poor that, when one of the members can no longer earn a living, they are forced to abandon them in a city in the hope that they can beg or someone else will care for them. The social stigma and subsequent family shame that is attached to mental illness means that relatives often “lose” their loved ones who are mentally ill on the streets and claim they are “dead” or “missing”.

Stories of healing and restoration

Chandrapal and his wife Reshma with their family were leading a perfectly normal life until Chandrapal started losing his mental balance. He left his home one day and reached Lucknow, a city which is about 50kms away from his home. Dirty roadsides became his home and leftovers in dustbins satisfied his hunger.

He suffered pain, hurt, and injury without even knowing what suffering means. Our staff found him under a flyover and brought him to Mercy Home.

Chandrapal was timid and did not respond for the first few days. Slowly with a lot of personal care and medical help through CFI, he started to improve and soon completely recovered from his mental illness.

A month later, Chandrapal was all well and went back home. The entire village was excited to see the transformation in Chandrapal.
It was something impossible which was made possible. Chandrapal was restored to his kin.

Beauty unveiled

When Sameeksha’s parents saw her at the door in the middle of the night, they could not believe their eyes! It had been almost a year since she was gone and lost. Her family thought she was dead.
Few months after her marriage, she began to behave strangely. She was losing her mental balance. She was taken to the doctors and during one such visit to see the doctor, Sameeksha suddenly disappeared from her home.
CFI staff found Sameeksha roaming on the streets of Lucknow in filthy rags. People around her were mocking and chasing her. She was brought to the Mercy Home. During her recovery period, we found out that she was pregnant.
Months later she gave birth to a baby boy. By this time Sameeksha had recovered completely. She was so happy to break this news to her family and reached home. Her parents were in awe to see her alive and cured.
They took her home with great love. The family was reunited. Sameeksha is once again so happy with her husband and family. She is now leading a vibrant normal life!

POONAM:

On 22nd March, CFI Staff received Poonam with joy into the family. Poonam was found wandering half naked in Vrindavan village, near bus stop in an insane state of mind.
She had bruises on her whole body and was always in search of some morsel for food. Seeing her pathetic state, some people nearby clothed her with clean clothes and offered food to her.
It was at this time some people from Vrindavan village approached our mercy home. She was brought to the mercy home along with our workers.
Poonam had injuries all over her body and so was finding it hard to move. She was given a bath and good medical care by our female staff.
After some cleaning up, she tried to talk to Poonam. She was very scared and did not utter a word for first few days.
Slowly she understood that we love her and care for her. We were able to talk to her but were unable to get her whereabouts. She could only remember her name and the rest is still a mystery.

We need your support for Poonam. Please continue to stand with us as you have always done.