… Over two and a half decades, the SCARF team including the Board of Management and staff has strived to address these and other concerns. Our objective has been to convince the community that schizophrenia, one of the greatest disablers of youth, requires sustained professional commitment and pubic support. Slowly and steadily, SCARF has grown to be a referral centre for the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with chronic schizophrenia from around and outside India. SCARF now offers a wide spectrum of interventions in varied settings including out-patient, day care, community and in-patient residential centers … (full text Homepage).
Understanding: Schizophrenia; Research; Projects; Programs: Community Mental Health; School;
Awareness; Publications; Treatment, rehab; How you can help; Donate;
Address: Schizophrenia Research Foundation (India) SCARF, R-7A North Main Road, AnnaNagar West (Extn.), Chennai 600 101, Tamil Nadu, India;
Contact.
About /What is SCARF: Moving towards 25 years: SCARF is the acronym for the Schizophrenia Research Foundation, a non governmental, non profit organization in Chennai ( formerly Madras) in south India.
Founded in 1984 by a group of philanthropists and mental health professionals led by Dr. M.Sarada Menon, an internationally known psychiatrist, SCARF has established itself as a center of repute in rehabilitation and research in disorders of the mind.
- The present team led by the Director Dr.R.Thara is composed of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, rehab personnel, administrative and support staff.
- SCARF is one of the very few NGOs in the world to be named as a Collaborating Centre of the World Health Organization ( WHO) for Mental Health Research and Training.
- SCARF is also the Indian co-ordinating site for the anti-stigma programme of the World Psychiatric Association.
Awards:
- In recognition of outstanding services for the welfare of the handicapped, SCARF received the « National Award to Outstanding Employer 1995 » from the President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma on December 3, 1995 at New Delhi.
- In 2001: SCARF received The Helen Keller Award instituted by the National Centre for the Promotion of Employment of Disabled People, New Delhi. The award was received by Dr. R. Thara on 2nd December, 2001.
- In 2006: SCARF is the only Indian organization to receive the Certificate of Excellence by the jury of Geneva Human Rights Association for the work done in the protection and promotion of the rights of the mentally ill.
Objectives of SCARF
- Research into biological, social and psychological aspects of Schizophrenia.
- Treatment and rehabilitation of people suffering from Schizophrenia and prevention/ reduction of disability.
- Community outreach programmes in urban slums and villages to offer treatment and improve awareness.
- Educating the public about Schizophrenia, to create awareness and understanding, to facilitate early detection, and to eliminate social stigmatisation.
- Training programmes to various groups of workers on principles of detection and management of mental illnesses.
- Lobbying extensively with the Government and other apex bodies for programmes for the mentally disabled.
Various Units of SCARF: … (full text).