Tarasha’s Experience of Working with Women Living with Mental Illness: ‘Melee tar aamchi, Jagli tar tumchi’(‘if she dies she is ours, if she lives, she is yours’)

Abstract

Public images of persons living with mental disorders are those who are hopping mad, violent and abusive, dishevelled with matted hair, often seen wearing dirty and torn clothes, permanently dysfunctional, disoriented and disorganised, incapable of maintaining meaningful relationships and engaging in productive, economically gainful activities. This list of misperceptions is unending. However, the images become more pronounced and beliefs consolidated if mental disorders affect women. While there is great stigma and discrimination against all who experience any form of mental disorders, it is more evident as far as women (and other marginalised groups) are concerned. Active rejection and abandonment, limited opportunities to participate in social roles, absence of viable economic opportunities and support networks and an apathetic, gender insensitive approach by health professionals are some of the ways in which this stigma and discrimination is played out. Much of the societal response to persons with mental disorders stems from serious lack of information, understanding and engagement with the issue. We tend to treat mental disorders as ‘something out there’, believing that we will never have to deal with it personally. It is the ‘other’, not like ‘us’; never mind the tension and stress we experience in day-to-day life. Taking real-life examples from a field action project, Tarasha, initiated by the Centre for Health and Mental Health, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, this paper discusses Tarasha’s experience of working with women living with mental illness. While tracing Tarasha’s conceptualization and history, it outlines Tarasha’s recovery and reintegration model drawing on women’s experiences who are currently ‘occupying’ mainstream living and livelihoods spaces.