Feroke: Every day feels like Christmas at Shanthi Bhavan in Cheruvannoor. Home to 52 mentally challenged individuals and orphans, Shanthi Bhavan provides care and support to all, irrespective of caste or religion. On December 21, inmates, caregivers, and well-wishers celebrated the festive season with songs, dance and cheer.

Shanthi Bhavan was established under the Capuchin Social and Developmental Action Service Society at Kundayithodu in Cheruvannoor on February 16, 2006. Food, clothing, healthcare and other basic needs of the inmates are met through the generosity of large-hearted people.

The collective efforts of Capuchin priests, FCC sisters, the Kundayithodu parish community and various voluntary organisations have contributed to the growth of Shanthi Bhavan. From being a facility for the destitute, it was registered as a mental health and social rehabilitation centre for men under the Department of Social Justice in 2014.

The centre has a team of 13 employees, including a project coordinator, psychiatric social worker, nurses, vocational instructors, an occupational therapist and a caretaker, all under the supervision of managing trustee Brother Joseph Charuplakkal.

Rehabilitation activities
Inmates are divided into groups and provided care after a detailed assessment of the severity of their conditions and the challenges they face. Various activities are conducted to strengthen their physical, intellectual and spiritual faculties. The objective is to identify each person’s talents and help them reintegrate into normal life.

Many individuals have regained confidence through proper treatment, individual counselling and vocational training and have been successfully rehabilitated into mainstream society. Some have even become employees at the centre.

“The success of Shanthi Bhavan proves that with proper care and support, mentally challenged individuals can return to normal life and contribute to society,” said administrator Fr Johnson Aarassery.