Patients or Prisoners - Problems at the Institute of Mental Health, Chennai

News report of issues at the IMH in Chennai, India. Featured is Vandana Gopikumar, co-founder and Trustee of The Banyan, who points out the various lapses in patient care that the Institute has failed to address for too long.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• mental health
• IMH
• chennai
• vandana gopikumar
• banyan
• NGO
• homeless
• women
• psychiatric facility
• mental hospital

[vinodmkrishnan]

I would suggest 2 things for you ... visit their centres .... then have the audacity to accuse. THEN read their annual report (if you can that is) and see how many funds come from abroad !

Finally, as for your personal comments on the Banyan founder, I think they atleast have earned their right to hold their heads high, unlike many of us who choose to criticize, but do very little to actually go out and make a difference.

As I said .. Lead, follow or get out of the way !

[JuggaletteNC]

The state of mental health care is abhorent to say the least. Drastic reform needs to be made if anyone is to have hope of overcoming their illness.

[arunvangiliatgmail]

why do you want to shut people's mouth? afraid of something? 136 yrs history of IMH stands testimony to the tireless services it has offered to the society. why bring foreign donors to IMH and show them around and claim the services offered and now cry foul when the MOU got terminated? IMH has seen many such evil forces and has withstood all. stop crying foul and look inwards. any answers for the questions already posed?

[smithageorge07]

Can you care atleast one mentally ill person and give him or her a life,then y u says all this,are u not ashamed

[smithageorge07]

To all the criticizers I would say,you people please see the work The banyan is doing for the last 16 -17 years and then try to crticise and also go and have a look at the Govt hospital.

If you guys are not able to do something to the society,just keep your mouth shut and let others do

[arunvangiliatgmail]

having corrupt bureaucrats in hand and colluding with them to loot millions, in the name of NGO, every one should lower their head in shame. do these women are picked from the streets and raped by these people. there are enough evidences? want to check?

[arunvangiliatgmail]

@vinodmkriishnan. you seem to have no answers for the questions posed. yeah, u don't seem to like anyone standing in your way. there are hundred business to make money, pls don't use these unfortunate lot for this. i will suggest two things for you 1) visit the institute and see the blood and toil of the doctors and staff 2) annual report? do you expect the annual report to speak the truth? ha ha..btw.. do you know the stigma attached with being institutionalised?

[vinodmkrishnan]

@arunvangili: there's an old adage .."lead, follow or get out of the way" From the way you rant, I can see that you are neither a leader nor a good follower. Then why don't you just let good people be; and just get out of the way ?

You speak of how many people were taken back. Do you also realize the stigma that mental illness brings with it ? Do you know of the countless families that REFUSE to take their own back ? Who cares for these women then ? The Banyan or armchair critics like you ?

[manasshivaya]

Oh! but the state government has been all in praise for the work of the NGO. i read so much about their work in the papers. i was a great fan of it since the rescue was made. Why not sort this out and work with each other? working problems out is clearly the way ahead. Accusations should bear some proof right? I hope all works out fine for both the parties. I would love to work inside the hospital also in my spare time,but heard that no one is allowed inside. we can change things overall maybe.