1. Do you have residential arrangements?

No. SAA firmly believes that users should stay in the community and should not be separated from their families. But they should not be in the four walls of their homes 24 hours of the day. It, therefore, runs a day rehabilitationcenter; where users spend the day gainfully and return to their homes in the evening.It helps users in managing their daily activities in an independent but supportive environment. It provides them a platform for developing social skills, self-esteem and confidence.

Rehabilitation is a long term process and requires perseverance and patience. The program is ongoing, as long as the user’s symptoms donot come down to a manageable level and even after that till the user gets rehabilitated in a job or in self-employment.

All the activities at the center like computer learning, sports, dance, music, art, yoga, and various vocational programmesare thereuptic and help in recovery and symptom management. The activities are planned to help the userto remain occupied gainfullyand to facilitate recovery.A few activities aim at creating awareness among the users and their families, afew help in training the users to identify the triggers and prevent relapses.

Programmes and activities at the center have been designed and planned carefully to promote recovery and rehabilitation. The sessions have been found by users and their familiesbeneficial inbuilding self-confidence, self- esteem. Regular participation provides opportunity for socialization, developing life skills and self-reliance. Recovery depends on severalfactors including intensity of symptoms and illness, insight of the userabout illness, regularity about medication and positive support system at home.

 The center provides an opportunity for psychosocial rehabilitation and a platform for relearning/developing different skills. Users must continue medication as prescribed by the psychiatrist. Any adjustments/reduction/stoppage will be decided by the attending psychiatrist depending upon the progress in recovery.

 Marriage is a big responsibility and should be normally considered when the symptoms recede and the user is stable. The illness must not be concealed as concealment full or in part is bound to result in failure of marriage.The issue also needs to be discussed with the treating psychiatrist.

The center helps in rehabilitation and also recommends users who have shown improvement whenever some openings appear. The centre, however, cannot give any assurance in this regard.

The users attending the centreare provided opportunity to earn some money through vocational training program. Those who have some skills are encouraged to impart their skills to others and get paid for that. For each activity which brings revenue, the users are paid labour charges and the entire income is distributed among them after adjusting the cost of the material used.

All efforts at the center are geared to make users independent. But this also needs to be encouraged at home by the family. The user should be encouraged to take his/her own decisions and no spoon feeding should be done by family members.

We conduct around 25 activities of which 12 are therapies. All activities are goal oriented. The users are assigned these activities keeping in mind their skills, aptitude and need.

Ans:- The following requirements should be met:

• The user should voluntarily seek admission.
• The last prescription from the attending psychiatrist should be produced.
• The users and the caregivers are expected to become members of the Association.
• The user needs to produce photo identity and the proof of address.
• The user and the caregiver should confirm that they do not believe in stigma.
• The admission is given after a few days of observation/familiarization.