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.
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…-
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 (…
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 wife recently got diagonisis with the schizophrenia. she was under olanzapine 10 mg for the last 6 months. currently she is not feeling with delusions and hallousinations but she has no motivation to do any work and very less confidence. I am…
my age is 35 years from the past 3- 4 months iam experiencing sleepiness when iam reading when iam in spiritual work i could also rarely concentrate totally in spiritual work thought process is always on iam trying some ways like preparing for…
I know someone who was diagnosed with schezophrenia about 6 years back. He has been on reducing dosage of medication as the doctor started seeing improving results.
There have been a couple of instances where the patient stopped medication, but the…
Request/question from a sister:
hello.m from chandigarh India needs help for my brother.He has been
suffering from schizophrenia since 3 years.He is an engineer student too.He
can't concentrate in his day to day life due to the side effect of ricnia…
Are there any mental health support groups in north Chennai like roypuram , central, mount road, thiruvottiyur ..scarf is very far
Can a person suffering from mental disorder and stable on medication accompany spouse when the spouse travels related to the office work to other countries for kind of 3 to 6 months. The couple live in India. The person needs to carry prescribed…
Can any one guide me on finding jobs in Chennai for people with schizophrenia but are completely normal on medication.such that knowing the illness n its limitations.
My elder sister was suspected to be suffering from Schizophrenia and she was under medication from a Psychiatrist during which time her condition had improved. then all of a sudden she refused to take medication and over the last few years her…
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A rare disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population. Most rare diseases are genetic and are…-
A rare disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population. Most rare diseases are genetic and are…
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A rare disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population. Most rare diseases are genetic and are…
