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  • SCARF Schizophrenia Exchange

    SCARF is the acronym for the Schizophrenia Research Foundation, a non governmental, non profit organization in Chennai (Formerly Madras) in south India Founded in 1984 by a group of philanthropists and mental health professionals led by Dr. M.Sarada Menon, an internationally known psychiatrist, SCARF has established itself as a center of repute in rehabilitation and research in disorders of the mind. The present team led by the Director Dr. R.Thara is composed of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, rehab personnel, administrative and support staff. SCARF is one of the very few NGOs in the world to be named as a Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization ( WHO) for Mental Health Research and Training. SCARF would like to reach and support a wider community of patients and their caregivers through this community platform.

  • Stock image of clasped hands of a woman with mental illness in the foreground and a partial woman in the background
    सिज़ोफ्रेनिया के प्रबंधन के लिए पूरे परिवार का समर्थन चाहिए
    वर्षा (अनुरोध पर बदला गया नाम) को पिछले 18 वर्षों से सिज़ोफ्रेनिया है – वे अपना अनुभव को साझा करती हैं, उन्होंने सिज़ोफ्रेनिया को कैसे स्वीकार किया, और सिज़ोफ्रेनिया का उनके जीवन और काम के विकल्पों पर क्या असर पड़ा। मेरे बारे में मुझे लगता है कि 21 साल की उम्र में मुझे सिज़ोफ्रेनिया का पता चलने से पहले मैं बहुत अलग व्यक्ति थी। मैं अपने इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज में थी और सब ठीक चल रहा था जब अचानक मेरे जीवन में यह समस्या आ गई। और फिर मैं उस 'यह मेरे साथ क्यों?' दौर से गुज़री, क्योंकि मेरे अन्य सभी दोस्त…
  • Stock image of clasped hands of a woman with mental illness in the foreground and a partial woman in the background
    It Takes The Support Of An Entire Family To Wrestle With Schizophrenia
    Varsha (name changed on request) shares her experience of living with Schizophrenia for the last 18 years, how she has come to terms with it and how it has affected life and work choices.  WHO AM I  I feel I was a very different person before I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia at the age of 21. I was in my BTech college and things were fine, when suddenly this medical condition was shoved on me. And then I also went through a ‘Why Me?’ phase, because all my other friends were normal.…
  • Film Frames of Mental Health
    A close look at the myriad issues surrounding Alzheimer’s and Dementia was the focus on the first day of Frame of Mind, a short film contest on mental health, organised by Chennai-based Schizophrenia Research Foundation recently. People with high blood pressure, or hypertension, and diabetes are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer and dementia. There are several lifestyle factors and conditions, particularly high blood pressure, that lead to early onset of neurocognitive decline. This was…
  • The researcher standing in front of a fence in front of a garden
    Loneliness, Isolation and Family Discord during the Pandemic
    Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) India recently did a cross sectional study on the association between family distress on loneliness and coping during COVID-19. Researcher Sanjana Goutham explains findings and suggests solutions. Can you describe the study on loneliness during Covid-19? The present study was done to estimate the prevalence of loneliness among general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Along with that, association between family distress and loneliness…
  • Challenges of Caregivers of Persons with Mental Illness
    A full day conference organised by Schizophrenia Awareness Association in Pune covered a wide range of issues that impact caregivers of persons with mental illness and provided a platform for fellowship among caregivers and other stakeholders. The Schizophrenia Awareness Association-SAA, organized a full day, All India Conference of Caregivers of Persons with Mental Illness – CAME,in Pune on Tuesday, the 10th September 2019 in memory of its Canada based founder Dr. Jagannath Wani, a caregiver…
  • A profile pic of a smiling Ganesh N. Rajan with spectacles and a black and white peppered beard in a red shirt with black background
    Schizophrenia Certainly Contributed To My Decision To Look After My Body
    Ganesh N Rajan, 59 from Chennai, a management consultant and now an author shares the symptoms that led to his diagnosis of Schizophrenia at 19 and how pro-active treatment and management allowed him to lead a full and productive life in terms of family relationships and at work. Ganesh, please tell us a little bit about yourself I was born into a semi-orthodox ‘TamBram’ family. I have two brothers, one older and one younger, and one sister, the youngest. I was given a lot of freedom and never…
  • Webinar: Living Productively With Schizophrenia
    Announcing the next webinar in our ‘Living Better’ series and focus on the importance of employment for user-survivors of Schizophrenia. In partnership with SCARF (Schizohrenia Research Foundation). Schizophrenia can be managed effectively with the help of the right medications and a management plan leading to a full and healthy life with meaningful employment and relationships. In our next Live Q&A session of 'Living Better' series we talk to user-survivors/ persons living with…
  • A young person in a printed blue and gold dress standing next to a red stool which has a green artifact on top. In the background a window panel and a half open door through which you can see a room inside
    I Love My Sister Who Has Schizophrenia
    Karishma Valliapan, 28 talks of her bond with her older sister Reshma Valliapan, the challenges of living with a sister who has schizophrenia and how it has affected her life choices and her coping mechanisms. How do you Introduce yourself A sibling that will never give up on any of her siblings even if they are or are not suffering from schizophrenia. A loving and supportive person who is devoted to helping people through their challenging journeys and therefore chose a path in neuropsychology…
  • Mental Health Care Gap India
    Why Implementing India's Mental Health Care Act Should Concern Us All
    Although the right to health care of any kind has become a legal provision for the first time in India, implementing the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA) is still challenging to all stakeholders. Sign the petition to bridge the mental health care gap. Contributed by Mariwala Health Initiative What is the Mental Health Care Gap? If one goes by global statistics, then one in four of us will at some point be affected by a mental health issue in our lifetime. India’s National Mental Health Survey (…
  • Eating Disorder awareness
    When an Eating Disorder Wrecks a Young Mind and Body
    There is a significant increase in young people with eating disorders from developing countries who take concerns about food and body weight to dangerous extremes. Dr. Mangala of SCARF, Chennai shares how you can spot an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia and binging and seek timely assistance to save precious lives. Eating disorders are behavioural disorders characterized by abnormal eating habits, causing psychological and physiological disturbances. These persistent abnormal eating…
My 32 year old sister has paranoid schizophrenia with no insight. She has been showing symptoms since 2017 but was able to stay away from home and work. Whenever she was feeling persecuted she'd call my parents and yell and accuse them. Her delusion…
My sister (age 40) is schizophrenia patient for past 20 years. My parents moved to Bangalore from chennai 5 years before for my sister treatment, she has been getting treatment in Abhaya hospital, Nimans Hospital(most of the time) and also Manipal…
What is the cure for schizophrenia?what are good rehab centers in Mumbai? Currently he got aggressive so doctors h has given medication. But somewhere he has to get independent.he can't depend on others for the rest of his life
My brother was diagnosed with Positive Schinzophrenia last month. The Doctor prescribed him Aripiprazole 7.5 mg he took it for one month but it doesn't seem helping him.
I hate being illness, I'm taking antipsychotic medicine but yet hear ing non stop voices my head going to blast,I am getting more fear
i​ am suffering from schizophrenia and ocd . But my family, relatives and even my friend's and society don't understand this. . They all are thinking that I am just cheating them by not going to any job only because of my laziness. But this all…
Hi, I am from bangalore and live with my parents and brother. My younger brother aged 25 is suffering from following conditions: 1. He has extreme dilusion. He thinks people are following him and commenting on his body and look. 2. He doubts me that…
I request the telephone of the No in chennai regarding mental health of a patient.
Hi All My 79 yrs old father is a patient of schizophrenia for ages now and had stopped taking treatment after 2013. he claims he is absolutely sane and everybody around if conspiring against him and gets physically aggressive. Even though a senior…

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