Thread by @mhwindia

THREAD.
Kudos on this multi-sectoral collaboration @THF_INDIA - looking forward to reading the experiences of some of our peer long-stay residents in #mental hospitals.
But crushed to find report about disabled Indians isn't accessible to print disabled.
Plain text version pls!

@THF_INDIA @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @MSJE_AIC @NationalTrust99 Sighted English-reading people can access / read / download the 80 MB PDF report on long stay residents in Government mental hospitals in India here : mentalhealthwatchindia.wordpress.com/2019/10/31/rep…

#MentalHealth #Disability #Deinstitutionalisation #RPWD #MHCA #CRPD #CommunityLiving #Stigma #Inclusion

@THF_INDIA @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @MSJE_AIC @NationalTrust99 Media had reported this earlier as a National Study on long-stay residents of Indian Govt mental hospitals. Puzzled by current title 'National Strategy on Inclusive and Community Based Options for Persons with Mental Health Issues.' How can a private body brand India's strategy?

@THF_INDIA @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @MSJE_AIC @NationalTrust99 How can a national strategy be made by anyone apart from the government (after consultation with varied stakeholders)

Also, when and how will this report's findings be shared with the residents of mental hospitals who are the primary stakeholders here?

https://twitter.com/THF_INDIA/status/1173484487109427200

@THF_INDIA @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @MSJE_AIC @NationalTrust99 For those who won't be reading the 250 page 80 mb PDF (and those who can't because the document is totally inaccessible) here's the gist :

The national survey was directed by @MOHFW_India @MSJEGOI via @THF_India in partnership with NIMHANS, TISS, CSOs.

theprint.in/health/36-pati…

@THF_INDIA @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @MSJE_AIC @NationalTrust99 13610 patients surveyed. Nearly 5000 had been staying in mental health facilities for > a year. 54.3% were women. 93.5% of participants hadn’t stepped out of institution during their stay, 86.5% had never had a visitor, and 94.8% had never visited anyone out of the hospital. WOW.

@THF_INDIA @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @MSJE_AIC @NationalTrust99 One must appreciate that this collaboration has gone where no other has gone before! (Barring NHRC, which in turn has been deputed by Supreme Court)

Mental hospitals are not welcoming to the lay public. And if info is sought, remember; even with NHRC some skipped giving info!

@THF_INDIA @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @MSJE_AIC @NationalTrust99 The report says nearly 50% of long-term residents lived in institutions for between 1-5 years, and 11.4% had been there for > 1/4 century. “In effect a better part of their lives had been spent within the confines of these facilities" - this should feed into @AdvGauravKumar PIL!