Athma Shakti Vidyalaya Society

25/08/2019

Today is a day of celebration ; a great accomplishment - our 40th anniversary!! 40 years transforming lives! We fondly remember our founder, Late Fr Hank Nunn for his commitment & dedication. We like to thank all friends and well-wishers for your support through these years. Sharing a video of ASV’s history.

Athma Shakti Vidyalaya, celebrates our 40th anniversary. 1979 - 2019 transforming lives!

10/10/2017

World Mental Health Day -2017

Over 15 years ago the World Health Organisation predicted that by the year 2020, depression would reach epidemic proportions and be the major cause of fatality. The latest statistics from the WHO are undeniable proof that we are indeed headed in that direction and moving at an alarming pace. Every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, dies by su***de. It is not surprising, then, that this year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is, “Depression –let’s talk “. That the numerous efforts to spread awareness and offer treatment options have not produced the desired results in terms of a reduction in su***de rates and depression related deaths is a matter of grave concern.

Depression is an illness characterized by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy, accompanied by an inability to carryout daily activities, a loss of energy, change in appetite, sleeping more or less, reduced concentration, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, hopelessness, thoughts of self harm or su***de etc.

Think of depression as a continuum of severity. On one end it is bothersome, at the other end debilitating. When persons with depression are asked, “How depression feels “, a common word they use is “Hell”. “ If there is a hell upon the earth, it is to be found in a melancholy heart “, observed Robert Burton in the 1600s. The poet Robert Lowell wrote, “I myself am hell”, “A room in Hell “, “A lonely, private hell”. “ Hell’s black depths, “said William Styron, author of Sophie’s Choice. There seems to be an intimate connection between hell and the hopelessness of depression. The images are dark and evocative. Desperately alone, doom, black holes, deep wells.

Depression involves a complete absence: absence of effect, absence of feeling, absence of response, absence of interest. The only thing you know is that you are guilty, shameful and worthless. It is not that you have made mistakes in your life, or sinned or reaped futility. It is that you are a mistake, you are sin, you are futility. Perhaps some who are reading this rather bleak and gloomy description of how depression feels, may begin to feel depressed. But take heart! It is not the end of the road.

As gloomy as this description may seem it is not the end of the road.

There is indeed light at the end of the tunnel! Every cloud, no matter how black, does have a silver lining! There is hope even if you can’t see it or feel it. This is where talking about it helps – initially it may be to just respectfully listen to the silence and gently reassure the person that you as a family member or a friend or a professional are physically present with them and available to attend to them. Gradually, as bonding develops the person will start to talk, which apart from what he / she is experiencing will include questioning , “ why me ? “ What have I done? What sin have I committed? Will I ever come out of it? As the person is encouraged to continue to describe their feelings, they will begin to notice the fears, failures, losses, frustrations and broken relationships that might be attached to their feelings and then be ready to discuss effective ways of dealing with whatever may be the underlying issue. Treatment for depression is a combination of taking antidepressants if required and talking about it with a competent person. No matter how much talk therapy may be criticized by some, if it leads to hope and useful insights, it is proven to be the best form of treatment for depression. This is the message I wish to send out today as we celebrate World Mental Health Day – “Don’t give up, there is hope”. Talk about it!!

Please feel free to contact us at Athma Shakti Vidyalaya Society on:

080 – 2658 1564 / 2658 5292.
Website : www.athmashaktividyalayasociety.ngo
e.mail: asvsociety@gmail.com

03/02/2017

Happy to share ‘WINGS’, ASV’s 2016 Newsletter. Please click on our website link: http://www.athmashaktividyalayasociety.ngo/…/ASV-WINGS-NEWS…

Happy reading!! :) :)

ASV has a fairly good success rate – approximately 60 – 70% of residents are fully rehabilitated ie are able to lead a normal life and join the main stream of society; get employment, marry and have their own families. 20 to 25% are able to independently take care of themselves and engage in part ti...

10/10/2016

Recently, a picture doing the rounds on whatsapp depicted a family consisting of parents, grand parents and two children sitting “together” in the living room, but each one of them were fully engrossed with what they were doing on their mobile phones. Ironically, the title of this picture was “Family Time”.

What relevance does this picture have with this year’s theme for World Mental Health day which is, “Dignity and Respect – First Aid in Mental Health”? In my opinion, I would say it has much relevance.

The first two meanings of the word, “respect” in Webster’s Dictionary is, “to look at” and “to feel or show honour or esteem”. So, if you put the two together, the word respect means, “to look at someone with honour and esteem”. In the picture I referred to, the members of this family were “together”, but were busy looking at their phones instead of looking at one another! In Transactional Analysis terms, this would be described as discounting each other at the existential level!! Examine your own experience when you have been ignored and neglected in this kind of situation which has become so common these days. What do you feel? It is indeed very sad that acknowledging peoples’ physical presence has reached an all-time low.

If such is the case of the so called ”normal” population, imagine how it must feel for the mentally ill – those who have already been written off, marginalised, discriminated against, ignored, disregarded and socially outcast!!

Consider another sight that is unfortunately quite common in our society. An obviously mentally ill person – homeless, long un kept hair, talking and laughing to himself and digging into the dust bin looking for something to eat, and nobody even notices, let alone cares. People are so used to seeing this “mad” person that they act like he does not exist!! But, if the same person were to sustain severe injuries in an accident, the same people who ignored him earlier, would swing into action – provide first aid and rush him to a nearby hospital. This is the reality of discrimination, neglect and lack of respect the mentally ill face today. Why is this so??!! Though there is no justifiable reason, one possibility, as weak as it may seem, is ignorance. People don’t know how to handle a person with mental illness and are scared of being “beaten up” and being embarrassed in public.

The public need to be sensitised about mental illness – what it really is as against the many myths that are screened on the movies. Active steps need to be taken to spread awareness and bring people to understand that the mentally ill too are, like us, first and foremost, human beings, and as such, have the same basic need to be treated with respect and dignity. This will only begin when people start to “look” at the mentally ill with “honour and esteem”.

Do you need urgent help?
If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse, or you're worried about someone you know - help is available.

You're not alone; talk to someone you trust. Sharing a problem is often the first step to recovery. Dale Peacock

31/07/2016

The funeral mass for Fr Hank Nunn will be at 3pm tomorrow 1st August 2016, at Mount St Joseph’s, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore.

31/07/2016

It is with profound sorrow that we inform you of the death of our beloved founder Fr. Hank Nunn SJ, who passed away at about 4:30 pm today, 31st July 2016. Funeral details are awaited.

It is the inspiration and drive of Fr Hank Nunn who forged our therapeutic community, and it was he more than anyone else who helped spread awareness and brought hope to the many mentally ill patients who came to Athma Shakti Vidyalaya for treatment.

A great man has passed on. We, who remain behind feel a terrible sense of loss as we say farewell to Fr Hank. May his ideals, vision and legacy continue to flourish and inspire generations to come.

May his soul rest in peace.

05/05/2016

Have you ever wondered why people observe 2 minutes of silence on certain occasions?

This practice began after the First World War ended when people took 2 minutes to remember and honor all those who fought and sacrificed their lives in the war. It is a period, short though it is, for all concerned to shut out all other matters, no matter how important and focus all attention on a particular person, a group or an event. This conscious decision to focus ones attention is awareness.

In today’s world, with so much going on, multi tasking seems to be the order of the day. With ones awareness stretched out over many things, taking time out, even 2 minutes to concentrate and be aware of one topic, may seem next to impossible. But it is imperative.

The month of May has been earmarked for mental health. It is an invitation for those who know about mental illness and its many issues to not only keep it in their thoughts but to take some kind of positive action to spread awareness that brings hope to the mentally ill and their families. Yes, there is good reason to hope! The mentally ill need not be written off. Our experience in the community together with the numerous research projects conducted all over the world is sufficient evidence that supports this hope.

However, this message has not reached a much larger section of society, and many are still ignorant that people with mental illness can be suitably treated and lead a productive life. Quite often, even educated people, though aware, would rather live in denial than accept the reality of mental illness. They would prefer to blame it on black magic and waste a lot of time and money on exorcisms, religious rituals, ceremonies and even marriage thinking this will solve the problem.

We at ASV know for sure that people with mental illness can be taught to become aware of their thoughts and feelings and to take responsibility to choose appropriate ways to express the same. Once a person understands this, they take charge and begin to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel. As they emerge into the light of reality they begin to bloom and flourish and the person who was once lost is brought back to living a productive life.

Throughout the month of May many activities are being conducted in the community to spread awareness. I request all those who read this post to do your bit and if necessary, go out of your way to spread awareness and bring hope back into the lives of people suffering from mental illness. - Dale Peacock, Director, ASV

21/01/2016

We are happy to share ‘WINGS’ – ASV’s Newsletter 2015, Issue 2. Happy reading & thanks for all your support. Click link to view.

http://www.athmashaktividyalayasociety.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/WINGS-ASV-NEWSLETTER-2015.pdf

08/11/2015

To all our dear friends, family & well wishes – wishing you all a VERY HAPPY DIWALI

10/10/2015

MINDFULNESS