This report details the activity of the workshop conducted by ICHARS Support Foundation, in partnership with Healing Dove Foundation, as part of Project Rainshine. The workshsop was held from 27th -29th June 2022 and focused on “National Training for Senior Professionals on Framework of techniques to address and improve the mental health among children and adults with deafblindness.“The workshop was conducted for the Senior professional and beneficiaries of Sense India International, who were introduced to the topic through HDF’s outreach.
The objectives of this activity were to educate and inform the beneficiaries of Sense India International and to teach Senior Professionals about the framework of techniques to address and improve the mental health among children and adults with deafblindness, to provide practical strategies and tools for managing mental health and to create a platform for discussion and sharing of personal experiences.
The workshop was attended by 42 beneficiaries of Sense India International. The participants were primarily composed of practising senior professionals.
The session started with an introduction to the three-day session and its focus on mental health, which is an intrinsic part of all our lives. The resource person, Mr Nitin Shah, shared the objective of the training, that is, skill-building capacity in the area of mental health as well as the application of these skills. They focused on the five essential dimensions of mental health – emotional, social, behavioural, cognitive and substance abuse. Each session ended with an activity followed by a question and answer session to solve any queries.
The participants showed a high level of engagement and interest in learning the various techniques to improve mental health among children and adults with deafblindness. The presentation and discussion provided them with practical strategies and tools for managing their mental health, such as emotional release techniques like release metaphors.
“It was a well-organized event…with a lot of new ideas to help in an everyday situation,” said Antoinette Pavithra, a Speech-language pathologist and an Audiologist. Antoinette and the other participants eagerly expressed interest in future webinars and workshops on this topic.
It has been recommended that ISF, in partnership with HDF, should continue conducting webinars and workshops on mental health for the beneficiaries of Sense India International as a part of Project Rainshine. As well as explore other ways to support the mental health of the beneficiaries of Sense India International. Follow-up materials and resources for the participants should also be provided.
The workshop concluded with a recap of the three-day training and identifying actions/feelings that come under the five dimensions of mental health – emotional, social, behavioural, cognitive and substance abuse. Participants were given assignments to work with at least two clients(parents) in the very month. A follow-up online session will discuss how the training helped the beneficiaries.
The workshop successfully educated and informed Sense India International’s beneficiaries on managing thoughts and emotions. The partnership between ISFand HDF helped to connect the beneficiaries with the resources they need to support their mental health. Thus, Project Rainshine is set to continue its goal of spreading awareness and offering support for mental health.