It is BALM’s belief that while advocacy leading to policy changes, and research leading to evidence based findings and trends will result in significant changes in times to come; it is imperative to simultaneously work on provision of localised mental health care to address the issue of lack of access to care and increase of active stakeholders in the mental health sector. Towards this, The Banyan and BALM have initiated replication programmes that are immersed in the learnings and philosophy of The Banyan journey,

Goals:

• expand access to mental health care;
• increase active participation in the mental health sector;

This is envisaged to be achieved through capacity building of partners in providing mental health care; create new models and practices; engaging in dialogues with various stakeholders.

A structured has been planned that constitutes either all or some of the following steps customized to the needs  a) Contextual Analysis b) Strategy formulation c) Partner visits and exchange of ideas d) Creation of a Training & Capacity building plan and Implementation plan d) Monitoring and Evaluation of impact and fine tuning of practices e) Hand Holding and Phase off.

Presently BALM is partnering strategically with Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Chennai Chapter and is in the process of integrating Mental Health Services into FPAI’s urban community level clinic (which is a Chennai Corporation’s Health post). Major stakeholders addressed through this programme are people with mental illness, their caregivers, the community, community level workers, the general practioners, and government health facilities.

BALM has partnered with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Missionaries of Charity (MC) to undertake mental health assessment of the residents of two Missionaries of Charity homes in Kolkata and subsequently bring in systems of rehabilitation within the homes and rehabilitation of residents to their families.  Sruti is the local partner, who will continue the work after BALM phases off.

In the collaboration, BALM provides technical support and training, CRS provides funding and Sruti carries out assessments and rehabilitation within the MC homes and will continue to do so after BALM phases off.