Tridal is a rehabilitation workshop for Shubharthi who is a person recovering from Schizophrenia.Tridal means a ‘Triad’ - here a triad of Shubharthis, Subhankars who are caregivers of Shubharthis and the Society. Tridal started with 3-4 Shubharthis, their shubhankars and two professionals. Tridal was started for the nonfunctioning Shubharthis by their Shubhankars and the mental health professionals at IPH. Initially Shubharthis used to meet thrice a week for two hours in the afternoon.

Shubharthis started their activity by cutting vegetables and selling them in packets. This was followed by different experiments in jewellry making, candle making, making garlands of plastic flowers, greeting cards, rakhis etc. Some of these items had were sold seasonally. Gradually the group started experimenting in making food items like Chutney, Bhajani, Breakfast Porridge Mix. It was a challenge to develop consistency in the Shubharthis to come to Tridal regularly.

Shubharthis lacked necessary motivation or urge to do something. Most of them were suffering from Schizophrenia for more than 15 years. Though having completed their education up to 12th or even up to graduation they were having difficulties in engaging in meaningful occupation. Few of them had attempted doing a job for a short period but were unable to continue. Main reason being they were unable to cope up with the work pressure, work as a team member, develop necessary social skills or work with proper attention and concentration. Anxiety fear, lack of confidence, lack of motivation, lethargy added to their vows and gradually the Shubharthis started withdrawing themselves from social interactions. They preferred to be left alone to themselves. They became more and more comfortable with their own self and drifting in their own world.

 

Calling a person Schizophrenic or suffering from Schizophrenia had a lot of stigma. We at IPH decided to call people fighting Schizophrenia as “Shubharthi” the one who is on the path of wellness and their caregivers “Shubhankar” the one who supports recovery.

What is Schizophrenia?

• Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating mental illness which affects the following areas of human life.

• Thoughts
• Emotions
• Behaviors
• Perception
• Judgement
• Attention and Concentration
• Touch with reality and over all functioning of the sufferer.

• Onset of the symptoms is observed to be between 14-24 yrs of age.
• Nearly 1.4% of world population is affected with Schizophrenia.
• Males and females are equally affected.