The research ‘Community mental health in India: A rethink‘, focusing on SCARF Community Clinic in Thiruporur (India), was published on the 14th July 2008 on the International Journal of Mental Health Systems (www.ijmhs.com).
The activities carried out by SCARF Centre from 1989 till 1999 and the follow-up till 2005 have been carefully assessed in order to identify which factors primarily affect the sustainability and continuation in the mid-long term of community based mental health programmes.
The research authors came to the finding that “community based initiatives in the management of mental disorders, however well intentioned, will not be sustainable unless the family and the community are involved in the interventions right from its inception, with regular support being provided by mental health professionals“.
Cittadinanza welcomes the study’s conclusions, which represent a useful contribution to a better planning and implementation of the community-based activities being carried out by SCARF Centre in Thiruporur from the beginning of the 2nd phase of Cittadinanza-funded ‘Community Mental Health Programme’, which started on 01 January 2008.
