By Kiran Fatima
The Badin district's infrastructure comprises tarnished roads making way from one community to another, living spaces structured from cement but devoid of paint, and open ditches of stagnant waters filled with heaps of litter. At one point in time, the eye seems suspended over fields of green with crippled structures of living arrangements in between.
The recent floods, however, and the consequent halting of economic activities in the district have added to the people's misery. But despite events like these and their many tangents of anguish, residents continue to pull through their routines. The women of Badin carry skills of making hand-held fans out of fabric and blankets teased with colour patterns that break into abstractions of traditional and modern designs. The intricacies of the practices remain unhinged.
On the morning of Friday, September 02, we made our way to Badin, navigating through the district's pathways to engage two communities that have been closely threaded with the works of LHSs (lady health supervisors) and LHWs (lady health workers) in creating awareness of mental health through the mPareshan app. The project undertaken by BMI seeks to help build an understanding of mental health issues in Badin. The service delivery by the LHSs and LHWs through the application has helped people acquire mental health literacy and develop perspectives on depression and anxiety.
Furthermore, psychoeducation through mPareshan has helped initiate conversations on mental health. With the support of the LHSs and LHWs, people are on the trajectory to improve the quality of their lives. The consistent efforts to create local perspectives regarding mental health have begun to yield results with better outcomes in community engagement. This has further helped eliminate stigma. People have started to perceive the LHSs and LHWs beyond the lens of their jobs- they are now regarded as family. Perhaps, even reflected as individuals collectively embroidered by similar situations or struggles speaking the language of that same weave.
The LHSs and LHWs, when meeting people in Badin, were swarmed with warm greetings and eager faces. 'The breathing exercise helps me release feelings of restlessness', stated one screen-positive participant. "The people I visit are always delighted to see me", said one LHS to our project team.
Communities in Badin are now empowered to believe that control over their mental well-being is greater than it appeared to be. Care and treatment are now being brought to people's doorsteps. This app has been a steppingstone in catalyzing change for the people, devolving the undercurrents of their fear arising from their mental health conditions into feelings of resilience and transformation.
By Kiran Fatima
The Badin district's infrastructure comprises tarnished roads making way from one community to another, living spaces structured from cement but devoid of paint, and open ditches of stagnant waters filled with heaps of litter. At one point in time, the eye seems suspended over fields of green with crippled structures of living arrangements in between.
The recent floods, however, and the consequent halting of economic activities in the district have added to the people's misery. But despite events like these and their many tangents of anguish, residents continue to pull through their routines. The women of Badin carry skills of making hand-held fans out of fabric and blankets teased with colour patterns that break into abstractions of traditional and modern designs. The intricacies of the practices remain unhinged.
On the morning of Friday, September 02, we made our way to Badin, navigating through the district's pathways to engage two communities that have been closely threaded with the works of LHSs (lady health supervisors) and LHWs (lady health workers) in creating awareness of mental health through the mPareshan app. The project undertaken by BMI seeks to help build an understanding of mental health issues in Badin. The service delivery by the LHSs and LHWs through the application has helped people acquire mental health literacy and develop perspectives on depression and anxiety.
Furthermore, psychoeducation through mPareshan has helped initiate conversations on mental health. With the support of the LHSs and LHWs, people are on the trajectory to improve the quality of their lives. The consistent efforts to create local perspectives regarding mental health have begun to yield results with better outcomes in community engagement. This has further helped eliminate stigma. People have started to perceive the LHSs and LHWs beyond the lens of their jobs- they are now regarded as family. Perhaps, even reflected as individuals collectively embroidered by similar situations or struggles speaking the language of that same weave.
The LHSs and LHWs, when meeting people in Badin, were swarmed with warm greetings and eager faces. 'The breathing exercise helps me release feelings of restlessness', stated one screen-positive participant. "The people I visit are always delighted to see me", said one LHS to our project team.
Communities in Badin are now empowered to believe that control over their mental well-being is greater than it appeared to be. Care and treatment are now being brought to people's doorsteps. This app has been a steppingstone in catalyzing change for the people, devolving the undercurrents of their fear arising from their mental health conditions into feelings of resilience and transformation.
