CONSULTATION with all of the people involved in our programmes is a central theme of all of our work. It ensures that our programmes are addressing the problems that mentally ill people face in their daily life.
We consult many different groups:
>The main group of people that we consult are mentally ill people and their carers. Asking a mentally ill person what they think about an issue can be a revolutionary experience; it is often the first time that they have ever been asked their opinion. Their carers, who are usually in the same meeting, are often the most shocked when the mentally ill person delivers a sound and coherent response.
>We also consult the community at large. Through consulting with the community, we can help to build trust and understanding, along with providing an opportunity to begin to educate them about mental illnesses.
>Another group that we consult are government health institutions from local to the national level, Village development Committees (VDCs), Self Help Group (SHGs), including local NGOs. By consulting these groups, we make sure that our programmes are achievable and realistic.