Collaborations
Government Partnerships
The Department of Health and Family Welfare (GoKL)
Since 2017
The Banyan is currently working with several mental health centres in Kerala to facilitate reintegration and transitions into inclusive living options for homeless individuals with long-term mental health needs who have been residing in government mental health centres for extended periods of time.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare (GoTN)
Since 2013
One of our mental health clinics is co-located along with a primary health centre (PHC) in Sembakkam, Kanchipuram District.
Department of Rural Development (GoTN)
Since 2004
The Banyan has worked with the Department of Rural Development to train Panchayat level workers and ward members on mental health, mental health issues, and social welfare facilitation and this module was also included in the Panchayat training manual. One of our mental health clinics is co-located with the Panchayat office in Manamathy, Kanchipuram District.
The Banyan also conducted a study on the feasibility of inclusion of persons with disabilities into the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), resulting in increased workforce participation, and promotion of social inclusion of persons with disabilities in this scheme.
Puzhal Prison (GoTN)
Since 2010
The Banyan works with Puzhal Prison to offer mental health first aid, and ensure training and capacity building of prison staff on mental illness
The Institute of Mental Health & The Tamil Nadu Police
2004 - 2008
A tripartite collaboration called Dial 100, that offered a mental health helpline, ensuring access to mental health care through an ambulatory service for homeless persons with mental health issues.
Tamil Nadu Police
The Banyan team offered a series of capacity building exercises for the Tamil Nadu police on mental health, working with homeless persons and facilitating rescue processes in a sensitive manner