What does SCARF offer to patients suffering from this illness?

SCARF offers a comprehensive package comprising of:

    * Out-patient care manned by a multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, social workers and psychologists.
    * Free medication for those who cannot afford it.
    * A well worked out, individually tailored rehabilitation program consisting of occupational therapy, group therapy, social skills training and cognitive training.
    * A special emphasis on the family to support, counsel them and involve them in treatment program.
    * An employment bureau which seeks to find jobs for the disabled.
    * Home based intervention when required
    * In patient care for those in need of intensive rehabilitation in puts

And above all SCARF sees in each client a human being disabled in various ways, but yet deserving the self respect, dignity like his brethren.

At the Out-Patient Department

We offer medical treatment along with Psycho-social Rehabilitation in our OPD, residential centres and community clinics.

The OPD: This functions between 9.30am and 12.30pm, 5 days a week. OP does not work on Tuesdays.

Every patient who comes is carefully assessed by a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals and if required medication prescribed. All this costs nothing to the patients and their families. Free medication is provided to some at the discretion of the treatment team. A close follow-up is maintained. The nature and extent of rehabilitation inputs are determined and implemented.

Residential Care

Care of persons with serious mental disorders includes medical treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation. This is done in the three residential centres with the primary objectives of reducing / removing symptoms, reducing disability, and returning them to their families .

Recognizing that the path of rehabilitation is long and tedious and involves several levels of intervention. SCARF has established three residential centers :

• Bhavishya Bhavan - The Thiruverkadu center was established in 1991 (on land donated by the temple trust with donations from Help Age India, IDBI, Madras Round Table I) and houses 65 mentally disabled women and elderly. 
• Just outside the town of Mahabalipuram is the Bhagwan Mahavir Manav Sanmarga Seva Kendra , a center for 45 men, on land donated by Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchi with Sri. Sugalchand, Jindal Trust & Sri. G.N. Damani being the major donors
• Sarada Menon Centre in our main building in Anna Nagar was inaugurated in 2003 with contributions from the Chennai Willingdon Trust, the Swadhar scheme of the Government of India and the MK Tata Trust. It accommodates 35 persons who require rehabilitation.

Manned by a professional, multi-disciplinary team, these centers offer varying, need based periods of stay and intensive efforts at improving the skills lost by the patients.
 
Patients in all the centers are engaged in work during the day and exposed to recreational activities, yoga and music. Periodic excursions are also organized for them. They are discharged when found suitable to go back to their families.

The centres are run on a cost sharing basis with a percentage of beds allocated for those who cannot afford to pay.