Centre for Social Needs and Livelihood (CSNL) : NALAM

CSNL is a community mental health service that combines clinical interventions with social entitlements to improve the well-being of individuals. Our grassroots approach involves locally recruited and trained mobilisers and multidisciplinary outpatient teams.

Impact

10,000

people have received early access to care under CSNL

1500

people access services on a monthly basis

27 %

return to work post receiving care.

1747

children living with parental mental illness and at-risk children receive support annually to break Inter-generational cycles of deprivation

243

CSNL mobilisers have been trained via Diploma in Community Mental Health to offer supportive mental health services in community settings

Locations

Partnerships

CSNL functions with a community mental health approach that combines clinical interventions with social entitlements, utilising grassroots action by locally recruited and trained mobilisers and multidisciplinary outpatient teams at proximal locations such as Primary Health Centers. Our mobilisers engage with the community to identify those with psychosocial distress and provide home-based care and supportive counselling to link them with necessary entitlements.

We also offer employment placements and social care packages to help those in extreme socio-economic distress.

9 wards of Chennai city including two that are in collaboration with Stella Maris College and Loyola College,

Thiruporur Taluk, Kattumannarkoil and Sriperumbudur Taluks (in partnership with National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu) in Tamil Nadu

Shahapur Taluk in Maharashtra (in collaboration with Integrated Rural and Human Development Project, Tata Institute of Social Sciences)

Ottapalam (in collaboration with Ottapalam Welfare Trust)

Stories of Hope and Resilience

I walked into one of NALAM clinics two years ago. Poverty, pressures of home and the community interfered with my wellbeing. My children were offered financial and academic support to re-enter schooling. This year I finally harvested a crop of greens from my land which was barren for several years. The relationships I have with my family and the larger community have become more supportive and affectionate as well.