The Community Health Dept. of St. Stephen's Hospital, Delhi, India started this project in 2014 May. It was possible due to funding from The Hans Foundation. We built awareness on Mental Health & Mental Illnesses in a slum community through Community Mental Health Workers. Being a part of a tertiary care hospital we were able to hold Psychiatry Clinics too. The project came to an end June 2017. I feel the community may or may not remain aware and educated about mental illnesses after a few years though we are still running the Psychiatry clinics fortnightly.
I similarly, began a community program (career development for ex-offenders) in November of 2014. I have found the counselor advocacy model articulated by Lewis, House, Arnold and Toporek (2003) to be helpful. The model details a systematic approach comprised of three primary intervention levels: client/individual intervention, community level, and the public arena. We began by providing a workshop series to individuals in a group format. Then using the Lewis et al. model we added components representing the community, and public domains. For example, partnering with other community service providers (Public Library, Goodwill Industries), creating an Internet website, lobbying for changes in city policy by attending city council meetings, and becoming a regular participant in the Department of Public Safety's offender re-entry meetings. Sustaining the program has required a combination of support from partners (e.g., the local public library provides meetings space and publicity; my University provides technical website support and volunteers; the Department of Public Safety helps publicize our workshops), some grant support, pro bono work by professional counselors, participation by interns and student volunteers, etc. I hope that you find my response helpful in sustaining your important community program and services.
Dear Mark, Thanks for the help. Yes I need to look more at the other two levels - community level, and the public arena [ counselor advocacy model articulated by Lewis, House, Arnold and Toporek (2003) ]. I need to do some search as to how these two will be possible in our case.
You mentioned practical examples of your experiences and I do feel it is possible to look around and use combination of support from partners as you have received. Thanks for the help.
I would look for global funding opportunities that sponsor mental health advocacy or awareness. Perhaps the WHO could point you in the direction of some potential funders. I know the Gates Foundation, based in the US, has a mission to support health activities in other countries. I would also look there. You may want to see if you could partner with researchers in other countries who may be able to get funding for your clinic in a combined research effort. Hope this information is helpful.
Dear Michele, Thanks for your suggestion to look for global funding opportunities but what I feel is that local communities and the country should also try to help in sustaining these types of projects and programmes. Basically we want to be self-sustaining and that is only possible if the people and stake-holders in our area, district and state start helping.
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