A ‘safe place’ for youth

When she woke up one morning, she felt empty. She was just 15 then. Two years on, she has overcome depression and is ready to help others like her.

At 19, the aspiring medical professional wanted to learn something new and difficult. He chose the violin and mastered it in two years. He now gives scintillating performances.

A 24-year-old woman was declared an average student by her histroy teacher. She now gives leadership talks to history students in a college.

These youngsters credit the change in them to trained healthcare professionals at Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF). Each of them lived through disappointments, figured a way out to conquer their fears and build their confidence. The youngsters and research associates from SCARF have come together in support of others like them at the Resource Centre for Youth Mental Health (RYMS). The centre in Nungambakkam has separate rooms for youngsters to discuss, do activities, relax and reinvogorate themselves to tackle the world.

Shiva Prakash, psychiatrist, SCARF, said: “The idea of RYMS was born with the support of research associates and youngsters. Education does not happen in lecture halls but among peers.” And thus was born the understanding that youth needed a place to relax, de-stress, hang out, interact with each other, learn from each other and move forward together.

The centre would be “a safe place” to discuss with peers about their mental health issues and develop their skills. “One of the things is people don’t talk to each other. They talk in their own clique. The aim of the centre is to encourage youngsters to talk to each other, even if it is to ask their seat number,” Dr. Shiva said. The centre would hold events on Fridays and Saturdays for youngsters. R. Thara, co-founder of SCARF, said the place would be the answer to the stigma surrounding mental health.