In a first of its kind initiative, Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) organised a job fair on Tuesday for persons recovering from schizophrenia and allied disorders.
Sarada Menon, founder-president of SCARF, emphasised the important role played by business establishments in rehabilitating persons recovering from schizophrenia and said that it was necessary to provide them with employment opportunities to help re-integrate them into society.
One of the top 10 disabling disorders, as declared by the World Health Organisation, schizophrenia affects those in the most productive years of life — the youth. “Employment is one major need felt by patients and families during the recovery process but finding jobs continues to be an uphill task for persons with schizophrenia despite their ability to perform almost on par with others in most jobs,” she said.
All the individuals at the job fair were assessed for strengths and limitations by a psychological rehabilitation team to be matched for jobs best suited for them.
The event also honoured proprietors of establishments who have provided employment to SCARF’s clients by presenting them with ‘Aadhar awards’. The awards were presented by consultant psychiatrist at SCARF Shantha Kamath and Australia-based psychiatrist T.N. Srinivasan. Most of the clients obtained jobs at the fair, Dr. Kamath said. SCARF plans to expand the job fair further in the coming years and include deserving patients referred by other psychiatrists in the city too.
