About SAA
SAA was registered as a Public Charitable
Trust on the 18th February 1998. Three major areas of focus then were:
|
1.
|
Creating public awareness about mental
disorders & their management,
|
|
2.
|
Empowering afflicted families through
training, SHG, talks of experts and formal training and
|
|
3.
|
Networking with other similar NPOs
at the national and international levels.
|
|
|
|
Two more areas of focus added since
then are :
|
|
4.
|
Imparting occupational/vocational
training to shubharthis as part of rehabilitation process.
|
|
5.
|
Empowering affected family members
with the basic knowledge to enable them assert for their own rights which are mostly
denied or violated.
|
Significance of SAA Logo
|
|
The bird in the center represents
the person making efforts to free oneself from the impact of mental/nervous disorder.
The four most critical components, which influence the course of the disorder and
its management, are depicted by the four sides of the square, namely, the shubharthi
(affected person) himself, the professional (doctor, counselor etc.), the family
members and the community at large. The four hands clasping each other represent
the need of collaboration by these components. Their efforts, to be effective in
a marked way, are signified by the square dynamically resting on one of its tips.
|
SAA Vision
Persons afflicted with Schizophrenia and allied mental disorders will not suffer
on account of stigma and will be able to lead happy normal lives
SAA Mission
- To create public awareness and
understanding about mental disorders in general and Schizophrenia in particular
- To inculcate confidence in and
practice of self-help amongst families afflicted with mental illnesses
- To provide facilities for vocational
training with an aim of economic and social rehabilition of people afflicted with
mental disorders
Some Important Terms
Shubhankar: A Sanskrit term used in SAA circles to refer to caregiver (Literal
meaning: a person who is dedicated to others' welfare.)
Shubharthi: A Sanskrit
term used in SAA circles to refer to a person with mental disorder (Literal meaning:
seeker of well-being)
SAAthi: A Sanskrit term used in SAA circles to refer to volunteers (Literal
meaning: a companion)
Dr. Abraham Low's Recovery Method
|
|
Dr. Low's clinical approach focused
on reducing the symptoms of anxiety, panic, and depression that complicate the long-term
course of major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, manic-depressive illness,
and psychotic depression). Decreased self esteem was related to the stigma of mental
illness that Dr. Low believed could be overcome by patients and their families through
the Recovery Method.
More...
|
Links to the important sites:
|
|