THE RICHMOND FELLOWSHIP SOCIETY (INDIA)

DELHI
DELHI BRANCH
BRANCH
Our new address is:
VISHWAS, 30/3, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida - 201308
Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. Telephone: (0120 3223331)

NEWSLETTER
Issue 7
E-Mail: rfsdelhi@gmail.com

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July 2008
A DREAM COME TRUE

THE NEW HALFWAY HOME AND DAY CARE CENTRE

T he new Halfway Home and Day Care Centre of Richmond

Fellowship-Delhi branch, in Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida
became operational from 14th January, 2008.
The building named ‘VISHWAS’ has been custom-designed to meet
soon have broadband connection to enable members surf the
internet and also visit on-line libraries.
It is expected that the facility, specifically designed for rehabilitation
o f p e o p l e
the needs of people suffering from mental health problems. The suffering from
architects Mr. Vijay Kapoor and Mr. Debashish Mazumdar, of Line & mental health
Form evolved the design after receiving inputs from mental health problems, would
professionals and care-givers. The main considerations have been enable better
patient-care, healthy environment, safety, security and operational quality of care
efficiency. and significantly
improve patient
Built on a plot area of 1240 square yards, the facility has 80% open
outcomes.
spaces, with 3 lawns - front, central and rear. There is abundant
sunlight in the interiors during day time and the rooms are well
ventilated and airy. The Halfway Home can accommodate 20 V.S. Mathur,
resident members. The Day Care Centre has a capacity of 40 persons. Hon. Secretary,
RFS-Delhi.
The facility has provision for indoor and outdoor games. The Day
Care Centre provides vocational training to both resident members
Vishwas Building
and those from outside. The Computer Centre and the library will

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Members of Governing Council at Vishwas
I recall Mother Teresa's words when she said, “What I may be doing may be a drop in the ocean but it is a drop that would be missed if it were not
there.” Let us stride ahead.
H ousing Vishwas in its own building is certainly a dream come true, which has been
possible only due to the dedication and tireless effort of the members of the Delhi
branch. I would also like to thank all the donors, large and small, for reposing trust in
this Richmond Fellowship project initiated by the Delhi branch. We have received generous
donations in cash and kind, and more importantly we have received such a tremendous
amount of good wishes.
Our aim is to now look after our residents, and also our non-resident members who attend the
day care centre, to the best of our ability. The residents are part of one happy family and it is our
duty to ensure that they have a life full of care and love. For ensuring this, I am greatly indebted
to the staff at Vishwas, who put in untiring effort into their work.
Last but not least I must thank the council members who have given their unstinting support
to the work for Vishwas. Let us all take time out to remember the late Mr B S Mathur, who had
put in much effort at the planning stages. Our journey is not over yet. We also want to spread
our wings to reach the poor in rural areas through our outreach programme. We have already
made a start to this and have had some good results. The outreach programme has made us
realize that there is a huge need for counseling and therapeutic support amongst the ruralites.

Dr. K M Khurana
President, RFS - Delhi

1
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FOCUS ON CARE
MEDICATION FOR SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS: SOME PROS AND CONS
E very time I attend a patient with
psychological illness, the question that
is brought up is why to prescribe
medication, does it benefit or harm more. I
have attempted to talk about this issue based
on my training, clinical experience and review
of recent scientific studies.
Illnesses which affect thought, emotion and
perception like psychosis, schizophrenia or
mood disorder may cause people to become
agitated, violent and lose touch with reality.
They may hear voices, see things that aren't
really there, and have strange or untrue
thoughts, such as believing that other people
are trying to harm them. They may also
neglect their appearance and may have
disturbed routines. In natural course most of
these illnesses are recurrent or progressive
and turn out to be chronic.
Extensive research has documented that
most of these illness have consistent changes
in brain chemicals. Whether illness is
precipitated by stress or not, there are
increased dopamine levels in selected
regions of brain. Antipsychotic medication is
prescribed in these conditions to correct
dopamine levels in the brain, which leads to
significant improvement in illness and
symptom reduction.
Antipsychotic medication does not cure
mental illness but its regular use clearly aids in
s y m p to m re d u c t i o n , p re ve n t i o n o f
subsequent acute relapse, may control
progression of illness. All these in turn lead to
improved social, interpersonal and
professional outcomes.
There are two categories of antipsychotic
medication - conventional (typical), which
Daycare at New Vishwas
were developed in 1950s that include
chlorpromazine, haloperidol, thioridazine
and flupenthixol, and novel (atypical) which
were developed in 1990s include
risperidone olanzapine,
quietiapine, ziprasidone and
clozapine. Both the categories of
antipsychotics are equally effective
in reduction of symptoms such as
agitation, hallucinations, delusions
and thought process, but
symptoms like emotional
withdrawal, lack of motivation and
cognitive deficits do not seem to
get better with typical
antipsychotic drugs.
The most common side effects of Daycare Activities
conventional antipsychotic drugs
are drowsiness, dizziness, lowered alertness of trial and error to find the right kind of
and neurological effects, which include medication.
muscle spasms of the tongue, face, jaw, neck
Does medication cause more benefit or
or back. The reactions can be painful and even
distress? Following a series of studies
life-threatening if they affect the patient's
conducted with patients, who have been
airway. Drugs may also cause blurred vision,
taking medication for variable durations, the
blood pressure changes, may affect
findings were consistent: that the benefits of
judgment and weight gain between 1 to 4 kg.
long term use of antipsychotics outweigh the
Faced with these numerous potential side
risks.
effects, many patients on conventional
antipsychotic drugs find it difficult to tolerate Medication may cause benign distress in the
their medication and they stop taking it. initial few days, but over a period of few
Novel antipsychotics were developed to weeks the desirable effects are remarkable
improve response and minimize worrying and initial discomfort to medication wanes
side effects and to boost compliance. In off. For most patients response to medication
recent years, novel antipsychotic is significant which results in reduction in
medications have come to be preferred over distress, helps patients to get back to
conventional antipsychotic medication routines. Improvement in patient condition
because the former cause less undesirable also relieves anxiety, concern and pressures
side effects than the latter. on family members. Unfortunately, 5% to
25% of schizophrenic patients are deprived of
It is important to be aware of the side effects this benefit because of partial or total
of novel antipsychotic medication, even unresponsiveness to any form of
though these are less troublesome and antipsychotic medication.
dangerous when compared to
conventional medication. Novel To achieve optimal response and minimize
drugs may cause weight gain, side effects the patient must seek treatment
which in turn may augment the at early stage of illness. A good compliance to
risk of high cholesterol and prescription and follow ups with doctor will
diabetes. Initial use of atypical reduce number of relapses and side effects.
antipsychotics may cause Regular monitoring for eliciting side effects at
drowsiness and blurred vision. early stages will reverse side effects with
Schizophrenic patients who are appropriate changes in medication.
using atypical antipsychotics Therefore medication is essential for
also report side effects such as treatment and prevention of psychological
increased heartbeat, menstrual illness. Proper use of medication in a
problems, and skin rashes. supportive environment, under supervision
There is no universal perfect improves effectiveness and enhances
antipsychotic, and since each functioning.
individual patient responds
differently to medication it is
impossible to predict how soon
the medication will work, or in fact, which Dr. Amitabh Saha
medication is the right one. Often the patient Consultant Psychiatrist, New Delhi.
and doctor have to work together in a process
2

CARING FOR THE MENTALLY ILL
O n January 14, 2008 a spanking new
building in Greater Noida opened its
doors to people suffering from
schizophrenia and other mental disorders.
Run by Vishwas, a non profit organization, this
facility provides comprehensive
rehabilitation care services to psychologically
impaired people living in the National Capital
Region and its vicinity. Vishwas, established in
1999, is associated with the Richmond
Fellowship, a UK based non-governmental
institution which runs the world's largest
network of mental health care services.
The Greater Noida facility, which caters to
both males and females, performs two
functions: it serves as a half-way home and
delivers a day care program. The half-way
home which has a capacity of 20 persons
addresses the psychological needs of its
members, while providing them a home
away from home. Additionally, a day care
program with a capacity of 40 people to serve
psychiatric patients is going to be started
soon.
Vishwas's goal is to provide a safe, secure and
sheltered non-institutional setting for
mentally ill patients. It is Vishwas's view that
such a sympathetic atmosphere is necessary
for it to fulfill its prime objective: that of
OUTREACH
A REWARDING EXPERIENCE
R ichmond Fellowship Society of India
(Delhi Branch) was founded in 1999 by
a group of some dedicated members.
Under its banner a rehabilitation home for the
mentally ill was opened in the summer of
2000 in a rented house in Gurgaon. This was
mainly to rehabilitate those patients of
mental illness who have become non-
functional due to the severity or chronicity of
the illness. Day care facility was added soon in
the same year; with provision of a structured
program at the residential and day care
centres, the behaviour of patients improved.
This led to steady increase in admission of
residents and day care members.
Later on it was decided to start a community
outreach program as a project of RFS. which
believes in mental health advocacy service
providing free advice and assistance to the
people at community level. Initially we chose
an area in Najafgarh and approached the
Medical Officer in charge of the District Rural
Health Training Centre, Najafgarh, Dr. Charan
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gradually rehabilitating its patients so that they can be integrated in mainstream society and
become productive citizens.
The Greater Noida center is staffed by qualified social workers with specialized training and
experience in dealing with psychiatric patients. Each professional staff member is responsible
for guiding and counseling a prescribed set of patients and for organizing and supervising the
center's scheduled activities. These activities, which are designed to assist in rehabilitating
patients and in improving their social and problems solving skills, include: individual and
group psycho therapies; family therapy, music and art therapy, gardening, planned recreation
and indoor and outdoor games.
Since Vishwas believes that a congenial physical environment fosters rehabilitation of the
mentally disturbed, the Greater Noida center has been designed by an experienced architect in
collaboration with mental health professionals and care givers. The resulting structure is airy,
well ventilated and filled with natural light. Power backup is provided by a generator. The
bedrooms for full time residents which are shared by two to three persons are equipped with
attached bathrooms as well
coolers. Even the green
spaces, still under
development have been
designed by a landscape
expert to foster psycho social
rehabilitation of the
residents.
Lt. Col. (Retd) K.K. Koul
Caregiver
Carer’s Group Meeting
Singh. He was very helpful in organizing consultations since April, 2003 and continued
meetings with the staff of the centre and local till March, 2006. Weekly consultations were
public leaders so that we could communicate given at all the Primary Health Centres. Later
with them freely and they could spread the on the program was abandoned at Ujjwa
message at block and village level for the because of poor attendance. Initially the
people to avail the mental health facility attendance at four clinics was roughly 25-30
provided free by us. This was arranged first at patients per week which increased gradually
Najafgarh centre, followed by Chhawla PHC, to 35-40 patients per week, thus the total
Palam PHC and Ujjwa PHC. attendance was about 1700 in one year.
Pamphlets were distributed
and posters were displayed
to increase the awareness
among the masses. Free
consultation and advice
were given. Medicines were
distributed free and
counseling was done
whenever required.
Although counselors were
e n g a g e d i n ex p l o r i n g
various places in 2001 and
2002, qualified psychiatrists
star ted regular Inauguration of Outreach Camp at Najafgarh PHC, Delhi
3
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This outreach program continued till March
2006 and subsequently has been
discontinued, as we have shifted our
rehabilitation home from Gurgaon to Greater
Noida in February 2006. This outreach
program was mainly funded by a WHO grant,
which we received for 2 years during 2003-
2005.
We also started a camp in the premises of
Hero Honda Motors Limited, at Dharuhera,
Gurgaon district, in 2004. The first camp had
Mental Health Camp at Hero Honda Factory, Daruhera
an attendance of 64 patients. We have
organized about a total of 7 camps so far and
are still running a follow up camp once a
month in the factory itself for the last two
years. This has been possible only due to the
financial help provided by the management
of Hero Honda Motors Limited, towards
providing free medicines to the patients and
conveyance allowance to the clinical staff.
The total numbers of patients seen so far are
as follows:-
• 348 patients in 7 main camps
• 361 patients in 24 follow up camps
• A total number of 709 patients seen till to
date
In the various clinics of the Outreach
community programs, we have seen a large
number of patients with Depression, MDP,
Schizophrenia & Seizures disorders. Some
cases of Learning disability in school going
children, Mental sub normality, Sexual
dysfunction and Hysteria were also seen. At
the Chhawla PHC it was noticed that a large
number of women were coming for
counseling because their husbands were
creating problems at home due to alcohol
addiction but they refused to take help from
us.
In conclusion, I would like to say that this has
been a very rewarding experience for us as we
have noticed that many poor and needy
people feel happy and satisfied after the
treatment. We are also exploring the
possibility of starting a community outreach
program in Greater Noida as a part of our
project and looking forward to some funding
agencies to run it successfully.
Dr. Satyavati Devi
In charge
Community Outreach Program, RFS, Delhi

A DIRE NECESSITY TODAY

R ecently, it has become increasingly

clear that mental illness (including
Schizophrenia), is a serious cause of
human suffering. With the increase of
population in number and age the society
will be burdened with ever increasing
numbers of patients with mental disorders.
The Outreach Programme is, the most
meaningful and most significant of the aims
of the RFS-Delhi Branch, based on the maxim-
“if you cannot come to us we come to you”. It is a
facility provided at the doorsteps of the
needy. Spreading awareness, teaching
methods of early detection, providing
medicines and counselling, urging care and
affection to the sufferers, helping people
overcome the evils of denial, of stigmatism
and of ostracization. These inculcate a sense
of self-help, enhance the degree of self-
esteem and bring about the spirit and hope
for a better tomorrow.
Dr. Satyavati Devi, Consulting at an Outreach Camp
Delhi Branch has been pursuing its outreach
programme within the three policy tenets
(advocated by the WHO). (1) Advocacy to
raise the profile of mental health and fight
discrimination; (2) Policy to integrate mental
only help detection but help in the treatment
and eradication of the suffering in not only a
few but in the many, and provide help where
the help is needed. Let us join hands in
spreading cheer amongst the cheerless. Let
health into the general health sector; and (3) us do work which is genuinely worthwhile.
Effective interventions for treatment and The Branch has been provided opportunity -
prevention and their dissemination. This let us deliver.
programme had been going on very well for
almost four years when at four different
centres till the activities of the Branch shifted P. C. Seth
from Gurgaon. The programme received
both recognition and acclaim in both private Treasurer, RFS - Delhi.
and public spheres. Fairly large numbers
made use of this facility.
The circumstances under which the shift to
Greater Noida was made had some far
reaching repercussions, and under some
severe constraints the outreach activities had
to be abandoned temporarily. It is being kept
in abeyance until we have developed
sufficient means to start afresh from the new
location and from our own premises. This
exercise has been and still is the most
important item on our agenda. What we need
today is the development of an efficient
infrastructure and provide back up support
to initiate and propagate this service. The
support of the local infrastructure in private,
in corporate and in government sectors are
the keys where such programmes, benefiting
Outreach Camp at Hero Honda
the community, can run successfully.
Let us create conditions, which would not

4

ANALYSIS
MY ANTARCTICA EXPERIENCE
A ll of us have read the story of Kumbh
Karan, the younger brother of demon
king Ravan in the famous India epic
Ramayan. Kumbh Karan was known for many
things, the most famous being his sleep
pattern of sleeping for 6 months and
remaining awake for the next 6 months. Was
he living or ruling over Antarctica? Antarctica
is the most unique continent of the planet
Earth. It has 6-month long summer and 6-
month long winter. The Antarctica is
described as being the whitest, coldest,
highest, windiest and the most isolated
continent of the Earth.
Ever since man has stepped on the shores of
Antarctica, it has opened a vast field of
research in various scientific disciplines
including health. Antarctica has been
described to be a natural laboratory for
studying the effects of stresses on health and
human performance associated with
isolation in extreme conditions. Its
environment is described as being extreme
because survival is impossible for the
unprotected and ill-provisioned individual.
Its natural environment being dangerous and
not easily accessible makes it stressful.
However, physical characteristics of the
polar-environment are not the strongest
stressors that may be encountered by the
individuals in Antarctica.
Indian base Maitri at Antarctica
Psychological aspects bring about varied
kind of difficulties and reactions for people
who stay there on short-term or long term
basis. Three main factors are described by
long-term visitors (Winterers) as being most
difficult to cope with : prolonged isolation or
separation from family and friends;
confinement in small groups restricting
privacy; and occupation concerning group
activities, restricted leisure activities and
periods of high work load. The polar
winterers experience insomnia, irritability,
headaches, anxiety, feelings of depression,
lack of motivation, concentration difficulties
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etc. Psychopathological reactions such as
schizophreniforn reactions, paranoid
reactions, or obsessions are very rare.
It is not always negative reactions. A number
FANTASY WORLD
of explorers and scientists have noted I live in a fantasy world of my own,
positive changes in themselves as well. A
sense of well-being as well as high self- Unaware of nothing, I'm living alone;
Friend rings up, “Don't you want to
come out?”
Look up entertainments section to see
what's about.
Go to the cinema going to watch 'Top
Gun.'
Girls clad in mini skirts, well nearly
RFS, National Board President
Dr. Sudhir Khandelwal in Antarctica
everyone,
Boys in demin jackets, think they're
esteem comes naturally to people staying really cool.
there. They feel excited at the prospect of
Me, greasy hair, brown specs I feel
encountering new and unknown
like the fool.
experiences in a totally different and
unrestricted environment. There are new
routines to follow and people welcome The curtain opens The Trailors, sweet
challenges and improvisations. The efficiency wrappers ruffle,
and motivation increase, and people feel
encouraged in establishing cozy relationship Half way through, I'm sick of seeing
with team members. There is more free time. Robert de Niro and Meryl Streep,
This positive environment leads to My mind flickers to the past,
cooperation and long term friendship with
fellow team members. Personal My eyes begin to weep.
achievements and meeting the goals with
courage and resoluteness equip them with
All my life I've tried to give,
better coping, hardiness and resilience.
Help other people, teach other people.
The Department of Psychiatry at the All India
In return I've been given verbal abuse,
Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi has
initiated a long term study to understand the My vivid imagination has made me a
general and mental health changes in the recluse.
Indian Expedition members who spend 15
long months in Antarctica. The study is
expected to tell us if the stress of Antarctic I've been hit with paper, hit, hit, hit,
expedition impacts general and Been called 'Fuckin' Paki, Piece of
psychological health in any significant Shit.
manner; and if the experiences at Antarctic
modify adaptive capabilities of expedition
Emotionally scarred at seventeen,
members in any positive or negative way. I'm sloppy, I'm idle, I live in a world
of dreams,
I spent five months in the Antarctica as a
member of the 27th Indian Scientific Antarctic But my soul still screams and screams
Expedition to supervise the above study. It and screams.
was the most wonderful experience of my life.
Leena Khurana
Dr. Sudhir Khandelwal
Professor of Psychiaty, AIIMS, New Delhi and
President, National Board RFS-India.
5
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SOCIAL SKILLS DEFICIT IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
I f asked to define mental illness or
schizophrenia, you would probably refer
to some symptoms like hallucinations and
delusions, the prototypical symptoms. But
stop and form an image of a typical patient
with schizophrenia. In imagining specific
clients and what they are like, you are likely to
think about their appearance and behavior.
Even when florid symptomatology is
controlled by medication, most individuals
with schizophrenia seem a little different, or
“off-center”. Their face and voice may be
unusually inexpressive, and they may avoid
looking at you during a conversation. In fact,
you may feel they are not really listening to
you. Overall, you are apt to feel a little
uncomfortable.
Critical factors that lead to your unease can be
subsumed under the rubric of social skill
deficits. 'Social skills' are interpersonal
behaviors that are normative and/or socially
sanctioned. They include such things as dress
and behavior codes, rules about what to say
and not to say, and stylistic guidelines about
the expression of affect, interpersonal
distance, and so forth. Whether they have
never learned social skills or have lost them,
most schizophrenia patients have marked
skill deficits. These deficits make it difficult for
many clients to establish and maintain social
relationships, fulfill social roles (e.g., worker,
spouse), or to have their needs met.
The socially skilled individual must know
when, where, and what forms different
behaviors. Thus social skill involves the ability
to perceive and analyze subtle cues that
define the situation as well as the presence of
a repertoire of appropriate responses. For
example direct expression of anger is more
acceptable within families and towards
referees at sporting events than towards an
employer. We have to understand first that
interpersonal behavior is based on a distinct
set of skills. The term 'skill' is used to
emphasize that social competence is based
on a set of learned performance abilities,
rather than traits. Social dysfunction results
from three circumstances:-
Vishwas residents performing at the Annual Day Function
•
•
When the individual does not know how
to perform appropriately
When he or she does not use skills in his
or her repertoire
• When they are called for, or when
appropriate behavior is undermined by
socially inappropriate behavior.
The first of these circumstances is especially
common in schizophrenia. Individuals with
schizophrenia fail to learn appropriate social
behavior for three reasons. First, children
who otherwise seem normal but who later
develop schizophrenia in adulthood seem to
have subtle attention deficits in their
childhood. These deficiencies interfere with
the development of appropriate social
relationships and the acquisition of social
skills. Second, schizophrenia often strikes
first in late adolescence or young adulthood,
a critical period for mastery of adult social
roles and skills such as work-related skills, and
the ability to form and maintain adult
relationships.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT SOCIAL
FUNCTIONING
There are number of factors can be expected
to influence social behavior in schizophrenia
in addition to social skills per se. Some of the
more important ones are:
PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS
It should not be surprising that an individual
hearing a highly intrusive voice, or feeling
threatened by malevolent forces, would be
unable to focus on social interactions.
Patients can be expected to have difficulty
fulfilling social roles and behaving in a socially
appropriate manner at the height of acute
phase of illness.
MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS
Schizophrenic patients actively avoid social
interactions and appear to have little
motivation to develop social relationships.
Several factors seem to be involved in this
pattern. First, most chronic clients have a
history of social failure, rejection and
criticism. As a result they learn that it may be
safer to minimize social interactions than to
risk further failure or censure. Second, most
clients are engaged in a life-long struggle to
find an equilibrium in which they can control
their symptoms.
6
AFFECTIVE STATES
Social interaction often is very anxiety
provoking to individuals with schizophrenia,
which leads to avoidance. Moreover, clients
often seek to escape from social interaction
initiated by others. Researches suggested
that clients are particularly sensitive to
conflict and criticism and will withdraw from
potential conflict situations even when they
are being taken advantage of or unjustly
accused of things they have not done.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Three aspects of environment often make it
difficult for schizophrenia patients to use
their social skills effectively. First, as their
skills tend to be limited, their performance
often is at odds or imperfect in some way.
Unfortunately, many people are not tolerant
of idiosyncrasies or social errors and tend to
be unsympathetic, impatient, or overtly
critical. As a result, clients are not reinforced
for their effort and in some circumstances
may receive a critical or hostile response.
Hence, they tend to become wary of
engaging in social interactions. Second,
many clients are unemployed and live in
harsh economic circumstances. They do not
have the resources to participate in social-
recreational activities that they might
otherwise be able to succeed and enjoy.
Finally, many clients are isolated and do not
have good social networks. The illness is
stigmatizing, leading others to avoid them.
NEUROBIOLOGICAL FACTORS
Several significant neurobiological factors
affect social behavior in schizophrenia. The
illness is characterized by significant deficits
in information processing: the multiple
abilities necessary for thinking, learning, and
remembering. Patients tend to have a variety
of problems with attention. They cannot
process information as rapidly as others.
They have problems in concentration,
focusing attention, sustaining attention over
time, or focusing in difficult conditions such
as when under stress or when presented with
a highly complex task. Schizophrenic patients
also frequently have problems with short-
term memory, which is another factor that
can influence social functions.
Krishan Sony
Clinical Psychologist
Project Manager, RFS- Delhi

REFLECTIONS
THANK YOU VISHWAS!
I have been in Vishwas since last two years.
Here we learnt to rehabilitate ourselves
through group activities, group therapy,
music lessons, psychiatric treatment and
various therapies and counseling. We learn to
depend on ourselves and to lead a well
regulated life. Vishwas gives us hope for the
future. In the past, I have had a tough time
but living in Vishwas has given me courage. I
have stopped smoking cigarettes. I have
been conducting vocabulary classes for
almost two years now, for the residents of
Vishwas. I tried to drill into my students that
irrespective of age, they can increase their
word power and the higher their vocabulary
Vishwas Side Entrance
ratings, more their IQ, their social standing
and greater their financial status.
There are more than 600000 dictionary
entries; Roget's thesaurus has 17000 entries
and 1000 proverbs; the Webster's scrabble
dictionary has synonyms for 100000 words;
the Oxford book of quotations has 7000
entries and 1000 proverbs. The English
language has taken over 50% of the Latin
language and the 25% Greek language.
England and America are the two countries
divided by same language. “Brevity is the soul
of wit”, said William Shakespeare who was the
master of English language, along with such
greats like Charles Dickens, Victorian
litterateur.
We are now thinking of opening up the
vocabulary class to outsiders. To teach
English language has given me great
satisfaction that in a minuscule way I too am
helping the other residents here.
Thank you, Vishwas for giving me this
opportunity.
Shyam Saxena
MY STAY AT VISHWAS
My story at Vishwas begins at the old Gurgaon
half way home from year 2001-2002 for 19
months. It was a home away from home. I
still remember the morning chores, meetings
and group activities, there with nostalgia.
Again I am in the Vishwas from Sept. 2006 to
date for 20 months. The counselors are very
good and caring. The activities are
interesting. The kitchen staff whips up
delicious food every day. The helper staff is
reliable. We make new friends here. I learnt a
lesson in patience and humanity from
Vishwas. Here we learn to live in peace and
harmony. Staying at Vishwas makes us
mature and disciplined. We face new
situations every day; we are taught how to
manage our time and money. We learnt to
regain our interpersonal skills and learn how
to go back in society and earn for ourselves.
Thus living in Vishwas is an enlightening
experience that cannot be matched by
anything.
Thank you, Vishwas, for helping me when I
was in the dire straits.
Dr. Shalini Dube
PAIN
Pain is to be borne for it is a constant visitor
and confidante.
…….. It teaches you tenacity, humility and
fortitude and makes a man out of you.
Pain is to be withstood for it is a teacher and a
trainer.
……… It helps you in bearing sorrow and
brings relief and succor to you.
Pain must be taken as an aficionado and well-
wisher.
………It brings out the best in you and gives
you a lesson.
Compiled by: Dr. Shalini Dube
SERVING MANKIND IS SERVING GOD
In the first week of November 2007, I joined
VISHWAS as a counsellor. The first few days
and weeks passed by and it seemed that there
is no work to do. However, as the days passed
I started to observe each resident with regard
to their emotional and behavioural problems
7
V ISHWAS
fo’okl
and so on. Then I started to empathize with
the members and I realized that the
counsellor's job at VISHWAS was the most
challenging, because it is they who have to
interact with the residents throughout the
day. Counsellors are the real caretakers of the
members. All the carers, the Governing
Council and all other people who are
connected to VISHWAS in any way, fully rely
on the counsellors.
Many members get affected by a new
symptom nearly every day. Some cry, some
become aggressive, some refuse to take their
medicines, some refuse to attend activities,
some complain frivolously about various
matters, shout at counsellors and so on.
Each counsellor treats the resident as his/her
own child. Our work includes giving them
proper care, looking after their personal
hygiene, room maintenance, medicine
intake, meals, motivating them to attend
activities and interact with the other
members and group discussions. Individual
counselling is provided twice a week and
members are supervised around the clock.
For the counsellors the day begins with
Vishwas - Open Spaces
patience. Rehabilitating the residents is not
an easy job. For this we need the cooperation
and the blessings of the carer. The carers
should visit their wards at least once a month
and keep in touch with their counsellor, so
that they are aware of what is going on.
The main efforts of all counsellors are
directed towards making the members
mentally fit, emotionally balanced and more
functional throughout the day.
Ruby Grace Selvaraj
Counsellor, VISHWAS.
 V ISHWAS
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We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of our donors:

(From April, 2006 to Jan. 2008) MILESTONES (From May 2006 to June 2008)
Mr. Des Raj Verma,New Delhi 5,000
Bhoomi Poojan
Smt. Pushpawati Loomba Trust, New Delhi 11,000 On 7th May 2006 Construction of the new premises at 30/3 Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida, UP.
Ms. Renu Malhotra ,New Delhi 10,000 Commemoration of World Mental Health week
Mr. Ravi Khosla, New Delhi 51,000 9 to 15th October, 2006 - Organized jointly by the Govt. of Delhi, IHBAS, MANAS, Action Aid and
Mr. P K Gogia, New Delhi 5,100 Richmond Fellowship Society, Delhi Branch.
Mental Health CampsFrom March 2006 to May 2008, 20 camps were organized by Richmond
Ms. Leela Khanna, New Delhi 10,000
Fellowship Society, Delhi Branch.
Mr. Manmohan Malik, Delhi 2,000 On October 2006 a mental health awareness camp was held at the India Habitat Center organized
Ms. Satya Oberoi 2,000 by jointly by Richmond Fellowship Society, Delhi Branch, IHBAS and MANAS organization.
Ms. Anjali Mathur, New Delhi 5,000 Presentation
November 2006 - Presentation on Psychosocial rehabilitation by RFS. Dr A. Banerjee invited as
Mr. Paresh Shah, New Delhi 1,000
resource speaker.
M/s Trilegal, New Delhi 50,000 Carers' support Group Meeting
Ms. Aradhana Khaitan Mehta, New Delhi 11,000 From September 2006 to June 2008 there were 7 meetings held.
Mr. Malay. K. Sinha, New Delhi 5,000 Press coverage
AVI Capital Services Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi 2,100 10th October 2007 To commemorate the World Mental Health Day the activities of Vishwas was
televised by CNN-IBN, with interviews of the residents and the counsellors.
Ms. Rita Mathur, New Delhi 15,000
27th Oct 2007 - The Times of India printed an interview of the President of the Richmond Fellowship
Mr. V S Mathur, Noida 10,000 Society, Delhi Branch, Dr K M Khurana, on mental health services.
Dr. K M Khurana, New Delhi 1,00,000 2007 Mrs Rangashri Kishore and Dr K M Khurana were interviewed as 'carers' by NDTV Metro.
Mr. Sunil C Saksena, Gurgaon 1,00,000 Governing Council Meetings
Held every two to three months.
Mr. Pavan Nath,M/s Lingua India, Nainital 1,000
AGM
M/s GEA Energy System (I) Ltd., Chennai 20,000 From 20 May 2007 to 18 May 2008 there were two meetings held
M/s TR Chadha Foundation, New Delhi 10,000 Shift to new premises
Mr. P C Rawal, New Delhi 11,000 In January 2008 Vishwas shifted to it's new, current premises.
Ms. Krishna Chabra, New Delhi. 6,000 EVENTS
Ms. Vimla Kapoor, New Delhi 1,000 The RFS(India) is the only NGO with a national presence working in the field of Psychiatric
Dr. Sujatha D. Sharma, Gurgaon 25,000 Rehabilitation with branches in Bangalore, Delhi, Lucknow and a rural branch in Sidlaghatta, in
Dr. C S Chuttani, New Delhi 5,000 Karnataka. The Fellowship is a founder member of the Richmond Fellowship Asia Pacific
Mr. Abhinav Mathur, Noida 10,000 Forum (AsPac) comprising Richmond Fellowships in countries in the Asia Pacific Region, namely,
Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and India.
Ms. Nalini Mathur, Noida 15,000 We are hosting an International Conference on “Psychosocial Rehabilitation Across Cultures”,
M/s Bihar Sponge Iron Ltd. 15,000 from November 20th to 22nd 2008, at Bangalore. We are pleased to inform you that the National
M/s Line & Form Designs, New Delhi 25,000 Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore is associated with this
Ms. Hemalatha, Navi Mubai 10,000 conference to be held at the Convention Centre at NIMHANS.
This conference will be of interest to psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers,
Ms. Sheila Kashkari, USA 44,224
rehabilitation professionals and para-professionals working with NGOs or taking care of people
Mr. Narsi Devanathan,USA 25,000 with mental health problems. The conference will also interest caregivers, family members and
Mr. V S Mathur, Noida 15,000 consumers. Participation in this conference will ensure that all of us will be able to learn from one
Mr. Shankar Mathur, New Delhi 25,000 another.
Mrs. Renu Malhotra, New Delhi 15,000
Mr. V S Mathur, Nodia 50,000 Dr. S. Kalyanasundaram
Secretary General, RFS - India
Mrs. Krishana Chabra, Delhi 2,000
Mr. Vasdev Bhagia, Gurgaon 25,000 Registration details available on Conference website: www.rfaspac2008.com
Raj Khurana, Indonesesia 6,116
Dr. N K Modi,Manchester, UK. 2,000 The Richmond Fellowship Society (India) Delhi Branch
M/s Infinity Engineers, Delhi 10,000 List of Governing Council Members
Ms. Rajni Bhandari, New Delhi 5,000 Dr. K.M. Khurana President Dr. Sujatha D. Sharma Member
Dr K M Khurana, New Delhi 1,00,000 Dr. Alok Sarin Vice President Mrs. Rangashri Kishore Member
Mr. Vishal Saluja, USA 1,87,489 Mr. V.S. Mathur Hon. Secretary Dr. Satyavati Devi Member
Mr. P.C. Seth Hon. Treasurer Mrs. Meena Mathur Member
Ms. Sheila Kashkari,USA 1,09,359
Dr. S.K. Khandelwal Member Mr. Sunil C. Saksena Member
Anonymous 1,01,001 AVM (Dr.) V.K. Singhal Member Mr. Shailendra Sidhu Member
Ms. Anjali Bhagat 2,000 Mr. M.C. Kishore Member Lt. Col. K.K. Koul Member
Ms. Pernille Olsen, Denmark 5,000 Mr. P.C. Rawal Member
Ms. Lata Sharma, Ontario, Canada. 4,000 For more details or to make a referral, please contact Project Manager,
Mr Sunil C. Saksena, Gurgaon 1,00,000 The Richmond Fellowship Society (India),
Mr. V D Verma, New Delhi 10,000 Delhi branch. Our new address is:
Mr. Manmohan Joshi, USA 3,930 VISHWAS, 30/3, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida - 201308
Ms. Premila Bajaj,USA 19,650 Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. Telephone: (0120 3223331)
E-Mail: rfsdelhi@gmail.com Website: www.rfsindia.org
Mr. Arjan Ralli,Noida 10,000