Food Shelter Clothing ...You may have it all, but Victims of cyclone Phailin are struggling in search of these very basic human rights that our constitution guarantees. Be Generous this Diwali...Gift your love... spread your kindness and display your humanity ...donate generously whatever you can and more...Lets join hands to Help the cause. Share the post and help create awareness!
Monday, October 21, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Appeal for Relief for Orissa Cyclone Victims
Dear Friends,
With extensive attention all across the world, it came and went. For a few days Cyclone Phailin in Odisha was all over the media and among people. We all spoke about the effective evacuation and how life loss was minimized.. certainly a commendable job!! BUT what hasn’t made it to the world’s attention, is the massive aftermath - the ravage caused across the state. Today even when news of this calamity has faded out, more than 12 million people in 16000 villages, 15 districts, over 4.00 lakh houses are left devastated. Figures much bigger than many previous disasters !!
With extensive attention all across the world, it came and went. For a few days Cyclone Phailin in Odisha was all over the media and among people. We all spoke about the effective evacuation and how life loss was minimized.. certainly a commendable job!! BUT what hasn’t made it to the world’s attention, is the massive aftermath - the ravage caused across the state. Today even when news of this calamity has faded out, more than 12 million people in 16000 villages, 15 districts, over 4.00 lakh houses are left devastated. Figures much bigger than many previous disasters !!
Survivors are left homeless, struggling to resettle in barren lands. Schools, houses, fields, personal belongings to basic food, everything is still a huge issue for millions.
Goonj has been working in Odisha for many years now. This time the fading attention and the growing need is a tough challenge. We are trying to do our bit but the scale of the crisis calls for a much bigger action. This is urgent, not because of present scenario but also because winters are setting in, which will soon make life much tougher for millions.
Please refer- http://goonj.org/?page_
For financial contributions, refer- http://goonj.org/?page_
If you missed out detailed update on 3 months of our work in Uttarakhand, please refer- http://goonj.org/
Do spread the word.. looking forward to your active role..
Friday, October 11, 2013
World Mental Health Day 10th Oct
World
Day
10 October, 2013
Mental Health
means
Mental Happiness
Being Happy
means
Being Human
This being human is a guest-house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
Who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture.
Still, treat each guest honorably.
Who may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
- Rumi
We, the Normals!
‘Normal’ is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving
through traffic in a car that you are still paying for – in order to get to
the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you
leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.
—Ellen Goodman
Some guy bought a new fridge for his house.
To get rid of his old fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: 'Free to good home. You want it, you take it.'
For three days the fridge sat there without anyone looking twice.
He eventually decided that people were too mistrustful of this deal.
So he changed the sign to read: 'Fridge for sale $50.'
The next day someone stole it!
-------------------------------------
To get rid of his old fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: 'Free to good home. You want it, you take it.'
For three days the fridge sat there without anyone looking twice.
He eventually decided that people were too mistrustful of this deal.
So he changed the sign to read: 'Fridge for sale $50.'
The next day someone stole it!
-------------------------------------
The girl behind the counter said would you like some fries with that?
One day I was walking down the beach with
Some friends when someone shouted.....
'Look at that dead bird!'
Someone looked up at the sky and said...'where?'
-------------------------------------
While looking at a house, my brother asked the
Estate agent which direction was north because
He didn't want the sun waking him up every morning.
She asked, 'Does the sun rise in the north?'
My brother explained that the sun rises in the east
And has for sometime. She shook her head and said,
'Oh, I don't keep up with all that stuff......'
--------------------------------------------
My colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we overheard an admin girl talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the beach. She drove down in a convertible, but said
she 'didn't think she'd get sunburned
because the car was moving'.
------------------------------------
My sister has a life saving tool in her car
which is designed to cut through a seat belt
if she gets trapped.
Some friends when someone shouted.....
'Look at that dead bird!'
Someone looked up at the sky and said...'where?'
-------------------------------------
While looking at a house, my brother asked the
Estate agent which direction was north because
He didn't want the sun waking him up every morning.
She asked, 'Does the sun rise in the north?'
My brother explained that the sun rises in the east
And has for sometime. She shook her head and said,
'Oh, I don't keep up with all that stuff......'
--------------------------------------------
My colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we overheard an admin girl talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the beach. She drove down in a convertible, but said
she 'didn't think she'd get sunburned
because the car was moving'.
------------------------------------
My sister has a life saving tool in her car
which is designed to cut through a seat belt
if she gets trapped.
She keeps it in the car trunk.
-------------------------------------------------
I was going out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain.
My friend said, 'Ouch! The chain must rip
out every time she turns her head!"
I had to explain that a person's nose and ear
remain the same distance apart no
matter which way the head is turned...
-------------------------------
out every time she turns her head!"
I had to explain that a person's nose and ear
remain the same distance apart no
matter which way the head is turned...
-------------------------------
I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area and went to the lost luggage office and reported the loss.
The woman there smiled and told me not to worry
because she was a trained professional and
said I was in good hands.
because she was a trained professional and
said I was in good hands.
'Now,' she asked me, 'Has your plane arrived yet?'
------------------------------------------------
While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man
ordering a small pizza to go.
ordering a small pizza to go.
He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6.
He thought about it for some time then said 'Just cut it into 4 pieces;
I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces’.
----------------------------------------------------
A man was driving when he saw the flash of a traffic camera. He figured that his picture had been taken for exceeding the limit, even though he knew that he was not speeding... Just to be sure, he went around the block and passed the same spot, driving even more slowly, but again the camera flashed. Now he began to think that this was quite funny, so he drove even slower as he passed the area again, but the traffic camera again flashed. He tried a fourth time with the same result. He did this a fifth time and was now laughing when the camera flashed as he rolled past, this time at a snail's pace... Two weeks later, he got five tickets in the mail for driving without a seat belt..
…..And last, but not the least: TRUE STORY
A noted psychiatrist was a guest speaker at an academic function where Nancy Pelosi happened to appear.
A noted psychiatrist was a guest speaker at an academic function where Nancy Pelosi happened to appear.
Ms Pelosi took the opportunity to schmooze the good doctor a bit and asked him a question with which he was most at ease.
'Would you mind telling me, Doctor,' she asked, 'how you detect a mental deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?'
'Nothing is easier,' he replied. 'You ask a simple question which anyone should answer with no trouble. If the person hesitates, that puts you on the track..'
'What sort of question?' asked Pelosi.
Well, you might ask, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'
Well, you might ask, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'
Pelosi thought a moment, and then said with a nervous laugh, 'You wouldn't happen to have another example would you? I must confess I don't know much about history.'
During a visit to a mental hospital, the Chief Minister asked the doctor: "How do you determine if a patient should be admitted to hospital?"
Doctor: "Well, we fill a bathtub. Then we give a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him to empty the bathtub."
CM: "I understand. A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon and the teacup."
Doctor: "No, a normal person would pull the drain plug. Well? Do you want a bed near the window, CM?”
Danny Kaye Show - The Thinker
Exercise Techniques
Do we really need Physical Training in today's life, when we already have our daily program of strenuous activities: -
01) Beating around the bush
02) Jumping to conclusions
03) Climbing the walls
04) Swallowing our pride
05) Passing the buck
06) Throwing our weight around
07) Dragging our heels
08) Pushing our luck
09) Making mountains out of molehills
10) Hitting the nail on the head
11) Wading through paperwork
12) Bending over backwards
13) Jumping on the bandwagon
14) Balancing the books
15) Running around in circles
16) Eating crow
17) Tooting our own horn
18) Climbing the ladder of success
19) Pulling out all the stops
20) Adding fuel to the fire
21) Opening a can of worms
22) Putting our foot in your mouth
23) Starting the gossip ball rolling
24) Going over the edge
25) Picking up the pieces
Whew! That's a workout! Now sit down and
26) Exercise caution.
"Faith or Psychotherapy is not about everything turning out OK;
Faith & Psychotherapy is about discovering you are OK - no matter how things turn out."
Counselling & Psychotherapy are Processes in the direction of
Self Re-Discovery, Re-Alignment & Re-Integration with the Universal Wholeness!
How Faith Can Affect Therapy
Can belief in God predict how someone responds to mental health treatment? A recent study suggests it might.
Researchers at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., enrolled 159 men and women in a cognitive behavioral therapy program that involved, on average, 10 daylong sessions of group therapy, individual counseling and, in some cases, medications. About 60 percent of the participants were being treated for depression, while others had bipolar disorder, anxiety or other diagnoses. All were asked to rate their spirituality by answering a single question: “To what extent do you believe in God?”
The results, published in The Journal of Affective Disorders, revealed that about 80 percent of participants reported some belief in God. Strength of belief was unrelated to the severity of initial symptoms. Over all, those who rated their spiritual belief as most important to them appeared to be less depressed after treatment than those with little or no belief. They also appeared less likely to engage in self-harming behaviors. “Patients who had higher levels of belief in God demonstrated more effects of treatment,” said the study’s lead author, David H. Rosmarin, a psychologist at McLean Hospital and director of the Center for Anxiety in New York. “They seemed to get more bang for their buck, so to speak.”
One possible reason for this, he said, is that “patients who had more faith in God also had more faith in treatment. They were more likely to believe that the treatment would help them, and they were more likely to see it as credible and real.” Of the 56 people who expressed the strongest belief in God, 27 also had very high expectations for the treatment, while nine had very low expectations. In contrast, of the 30 patients who said they had no belief in God or a higher power, only two had high expectations for the treatment.
“It’s one of the first studies I’ve read that actually looks at perhaps a mechanism” for “why we see some correlation between the strength of religious commitment or the strength of spiritual commitment and better outcomes,” said Dr. Marilyn Baetz, a psychiatrist at the University of Saskatchewan who studies the effects of religion and spirituality on mental health. An earlier year-long study by Dr. Baetz and her colleagues found that people with panic disorder who rated religion as “very important” to them responded better to cognitive behavioral therapy, showing less stress and anxiety, than those who rated religion as less important.
Assessing how religious practices affect health is difficult, in part because researchers can’t randomly assign people to embrace religion or not, the way they might assign participants in a drug test to take a new medication or a placebo. Most studies of this relationship are observational, and people who are more or less religious may differ in other important ways, making it difficult to know whether religious faith is actually causing the effect or if it is a result of some other factor. But teasing out the effects of faith on treatment outcomes may be an important goal. Most Americans believe in God — 92 percent, according to a 2011 Gallup poll, though the percentage among mental health professionals may be considerably lower. One study from 2003 found that 65 percent of psychiatrists said they believed in God, compared with 77 percent of other physicians.
Previous research has associated church attendance with increased life expectancy and, in some studies, a reduced risk of depression. But this study looked not at how often the participants went to church or at their religious affiliation but at their belief in a higher power. “I think it’s a scientifically sound way of measuring things that have to do with people’s experience of spirituality,” said Torrey Creed, an assistant professor of psychology in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. “I think about this as a study of cognitive styles, that there’s a pattern of thinking that helps people get better in treatment. And two examples of this pattern of thinking are ‘I believe in treatment’ and ‘I believe in God.’”
Randi McCabe, director of the Anxiety Treatment and Research Center at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Ontario, said, “People’s belief that something is going to work will make it work for a significant proportion of people,” similar to the placebo effect. “Your belief that you’re going to get better, your attitude, does influence how you feel,” Dr. McCabe continued. “And really, in cognitive behavior therapy, that is really what we’re trying to change: people’s beliefs, how they’re seeing their world, their perspective.” Dr. Rosmarin offered further explanation for why religious faith might aid psychiatric treatment. “There’s a vulnerability associated with physicality,” he said. “I think people, psychiatric patients in particular, might recognize that vulnerability and recognize that things can’t be counted on. “Sometimes medications don’t work, and sometimes psychotherapy doesn't work,” he continued. “But if someone believes in something that is metaphysical, if someone believes in something spiritual, which would ostensibly be eternal, permanent, unwavering, omnipotent, then that could be an important resource to them, particularly in times of emotional distress."
Attached PPT : The Argument against Argument
&
VLC: Wrong Number
Greg Lobo
Counselling Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Life-Coach
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
ONE DAY I DECIDED TO QUIT- Change your perception
ONE DAY I DECIDED TO QUIT
ONE DAY I DECIDED TO QUITI quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life.I went to the woods to have one last talk with god“God”, I asked,“Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”.His answer surprised me…“Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo ?“Yes”, I replied.“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.I gave them light.I gave them water.The fern quickly grew from the earth.Its brilliant green covered the floor.Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.“In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.But I would not quit.In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit.” He said.“Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant…But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.”He asked me. “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots”.“I would not quit on the bamboo.I will never quit on you.”“Don’t compare yourself to others.” He said.”The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.Yet they both make the forest beautiful.”"Your time will come”, God said to me.“You will rise high”.“How high should I rise?” I asked.“How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.“As high as it can?” I questioned.”Yes.” He said, “Give Me glory by rising as high as you can.”I left the forest and brought back this story.I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up onyou.Never, Never, Never, Give up.Don’t tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!
THE STORM ( Story)- A testimony for anyone going through tough times
THE STORM ( Story)
A lady was driving along with her father.
They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked! her father, "What should I do?"A lady was driving along with her father.
He said "keep driving".. Cars began to pull over to the side,the storm was getting worse.
"What should I do." The young lady asked?
"Keep driving," her father replied.
On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over. She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is terrible, and everyone is pulling over!"
Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!"
Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she could see a little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on dry land, and the sun came out.
Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out."
She said "But why now?"
He said "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are still in the storm,
because you never gave up, your storm is now over.
This is a testimony for anyone who is going through 'hard times'.
Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have to...if you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine upon your face again
Tips for Your Well-Being
Tips for Your Well-Being
10 Tips 4 Wellbeing
Understand & accept Your Problems
Observe Your Emotions & Feelings. Manage them effectively
Value the Value of Life & give Importance to Your Personal Values
Discover Your Passions & do things which make You Happy
Know that Happiness is Your Personal Choice.Happiness is Really a State of the Mind
Have Good Relationship with Family & Friends
Don’t try to imitate Others. Try to live whom You are
Give Priority to Your Health & Wellness
Have a Daily Routine. Find time to Relax & Meditate
Have a Let-go Attitude & take Life as it is
Mental Health Act
Mental Health Act
Mental health act was drafted by parliament in 1987 but it came into effect in all the states and union territories of India in April 1993. This act replaces the Indian Lunacy act of 1912, which had earlier replaced the Indian Lunatic Asylum act of 1858.
The mental health act of 1987 was an Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to treatment and care of mentally ill person, to make better provision with respect to their property and affairs and for maters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The positive aspect of this Act were that the terminologies that were used in the Act 1912 were Nursing home Asylum, Lunatic and Criminal lunatic which were then changed to Psychiatric hospital, Mentally ill person and Mentally ill prisoner respectively.
Establishment of licensing authorities to provide a check on licensing and working of mental health hospitals, Provision for establishment of new hospitals, provision for out patient care thus avoiding unnecessary detention, simple procedures for admission and discharge, appointment of guardians for maintaining property and person of mentally ill, provision for bearing the expenses of treatment by relatives and government. prohibition on any research on such subjects without proper consent, provision for separate places for children, addicts and convicted persons.
Establishment of licensing authorities to provide a check on licensing and working of mental health hospitals, Provision for establishment of new hospitals, provision for out patient care thus avoiding unnecessary detention, simple procedures for admission and discharge, appointment of guardians for maintaining property and person of mentally ill, provision for bearing the expenses of treatment by relatives and government. prohibition on any research on such subjects without proper consent, provision for separate places for children, addicts and convicted persons.
Criticism of the Act
Although change older terminologies to newer ones were good from theoretical aspects, but social stigma attached to the illness, licensing authorities do not have a doctor who may be in a better position to assess the facilities and services of these centers, establishing newer hospitals was a costly affair in developing countries, lots of stress was made on admission and treatment and no provisions for home treatment. In case of no relatives of the ill person then who looks after the patient? If government, then for how long?
Once a person is admitted to mental hospital he is termed insane or mad by the society, no provisions for punishing the relatives and officers requesting unnecessary detention of a person to such hospitals and research on such subjects could be carried out by consent of guardian.
Although change older terminologies to newer ones were good from theoretical aspects, but social stigma attached to the illness, licensing authorities do not have a doctor who may be in a better position to assess the facilities and services of these centers, establishing newer hospitals was a costly affair in developing countries, lots of stress was made on admission and treatment and no provisions for home treatment. In case of no relatives of the ill person then who looks after the patient? If government, then for how long?
Once a person is admitted to mental hospital he is termed insane or mad by the society, no provisions for punishing the relatives and officers requesting unnecessary detention of a person to such hospitals and research on such subjects could be carried out by consent of guardian.
A few suggestion to improve the Act
- Educating society about the mental illness.
- Licensing process should be made simpler.
- Provision for checking the working of licensing authorities and powers vested in them to be limited.
- Licensing authorities should appoint a doctor preferably a psychiatrist as inspecting officer.
- Private Doctors and general nursing homes should be allowed to treat such patients at par with recognized centers,
- Other than children and addicts even separate places are to be provided for elderly, destitute and women
- Adequate provisions to be provided for longterm treatment and expenses on treatment.
- Provisions for rehabilitation centers are to be incorporated. Efforts should be there for post
- Discharge care and rehabilitation.
- Strict provisions should be there for punishing the individuals requesting unnecessary detention and exploitation of mentally ill.
- Stress should be on treatment of illness rather than the ill.
- Treatment should be based on concept of socialization and not on hospitalization.
Every law has its own advantages and disadvantages although existing law gives an excellent approach to the problems of mentally ill. But some of the provisions need a proper rethinking. Therefore, Mental Health Bill- 2013 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the health minister where a few changes have been made.
It seeks to provide for mental health care for persons with mental illnesses and to protect, promote and fulfill the rights of such persons during the delivery of mental health care and services.
Once the Parliament passes the Bill and it is assented by the President, it will replace the Mental Health Act of 1987.
It seeks to provide for mental health care for persons with mental illnesses and to protect, promote and fulfill the rights of such persons during the delivery of mental health care and services.
Once the Parliament passes the Bill and it is assented by the President, it will replace the Mental Health Act of 1987.
The key points of this Mental Health Care Bill 2013 are as follows:
(Source: Nirmalya Dutta, Sub editor of health.india.com)
(Source: Nirmalya Dutta, Sub editor of health.india.com)
Decriminalizes attempted suicides
Earlier if a person tried to commit suicide s/he was put behind bars (Section 309 of Indian Penal Code). But now the new bill says that if a person has attempted suicide then s/he needs treatment and not jailing.
WHO had estimated 1.8 lakh suicides cases in India every year, but very few studies have been carried out in the country.
The ability to choose treatment options
This bill also gives the person the right to make an 'advanced directive', that is, a person can write a statement explaining how s/he wants to be treated if s/he becomes insane. They can also state whether or not they want to be admitted to an institution or no and they cannot be forced to do so by their doctors or family members. The person can also choose a nominated representative to assist him/her during their treatment.
Medical insurance to cover mental health treatment
This law also states that all insurance companies will have to make provisions for medical insurance for the treatment of mental illness. This will provide legal protection for the one's who are suffering from mental illness.
Ensure equality and dignity for the mentally ill
The of the bill is to safeguard the rights of the mentally ill and to have access to the health care facilities, the right community living, right to protection from cruelty, inhuman treatment and right to equality and non-discrimination.
This law also states that all insurance companies will have to make provisions for medical insurance for the treatment of mental illness. This will provide legal protection for the one's who are suffering from mental illness.
Ensure equality and dignity for the mentally ill
The of the bill is to safeguard the rights of the mentally ill and to have access to the health care facilities, the right community living, right to protection from cruelty, inhuman treatment and right to equality and non-discrimination.
Ban on archaic and barbaric treatment methods
It bans the very old fashioned practice like electro-convulsive therapy (ECT's) without anaesthesia and restricts psychosurgery and strictly forbids the chaining of mentally ill patients (a practice quite common in many parts of India) and the sterilization of men or women when such a practice is considered a course of action for the treatment of mental illness.
The bill also states that ECT to minors will be given only after permission from the Review Commission on a case-to-case basis.
Stringent penalties are proposed for the ones found running unregistered mental health care establishments. The fine ranges from 50000 Rupees to 5 lakh Rupees depending on the frequency of the offence.
It bans the very old fashioned practice like electro-convulsive therapy (ECT's) without anaesthesia and restricts psychosurgery and strictly forbids the chaining of mentally ill patients (a practice quite common in many parts of India) and the sterilization of men or women when such a practice is considered a course of action for the treatment of mental illness.
The bill also states that ECT to minors will be given only after permission from the Review Commission on a case-to-case basis.
Stringent penalties are proposed for the ones found running unregistered mental health care establishments. The fine ranges from 50000 Rupees to 5 lakh Rupees depending on the frequency of the offence.
This move will be the new sunshine in the lives of people who need the treatment and hopefully the Bill will become a Law soon but the Bill may need further refinement, and this will happen in due course as part of the legislative process ahead.
References:
- Rastogi P (2005). MENTAL HEALTH ACT,1987 - AN ANALYSIS. Retrieved 28th September 2013, fromhttp://imsear.hellis.org/bitstream/123456789/134743/1/jiafm2005v27i3p176.pdf
- Dutta N (2013). Retrieved 28th September 2013, fromhttp://health.india.com/news/will-the-mental-healthcare-bill-2013-address-the-woes-of-the-mentally-ill/
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