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Hailed as the ‘godmother of psycho-social rehabilitation’ and the first woman psychiatrist of India, Dr.Sarada Menon, is completing 50 years of treatment and solace.  At the serene age of 84, she moves about infusing vitality in the organizations nurtured by her and treating patients in the afternoons.

After retirement as Superintendent from the Chennai Institute of Mental Health in 1978, she founded the ‘Schizophrenic Care And Research Foundation’ (SCARF), the 1^st non-government organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of mentally ill in India.

In the treatment of mental diseases, the phase after recovery is most crucial, when the patients seek acceptance by the family and society.  SCARF seeks to ease this transition to normal productive life.

When she joined Madras Mental Hospital, the 800-bedded hospital had 1800 patients.  Her first effort was to build the database of patients and sent back cured patients to their homes.  It was with her initiative that daycare centre, Out Patient wing, Industrial Therapy Unit, Recreation Therapy Unit and Student Ward were started in the hospital.

She took initiative, under SCARF, to start half-way homes and community centres for the rehabilitation of former patients.

Best Employer Award of the Central Government, Best Doctor Award of Tamil Nadu Government, special award of the Boston International Association of psycho-social rehabilitation etc are a few of the accolades that came her way.  14 years ago, the nation had honoured her with Padmabhushan.

Perhaps more valuable than all of them would be her 50 years of experience of watching tear-streaming eyes getting transformed into thanksgiving gaze.

Courtesy: Beena Govind (text), Mathrubhumi, July 2, 2006
Contributed by: Administrator

"He that would hang his dog gives out first that he is mad."