About Us

On 26th December 2017, a roundtable conference on mental health was organized by Paripurnata Halfway Home in collaboration with Jadavpur University to disseminate the research findings of Mr. Mahendrasingh M Sengar (a social activist and researcher) on the subject of ‘Status of Mental Health in West Bengal’.

It was attended by all prominent non-government organizations, academicians and researchers from Jadavpur University and Calcutta University. Shri. Jogen Chowdhury an eminent artist and Rajya Sabha Member along with Smt. Chandrima Bhattacharya (Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare Department) have blessed the occasion.

After deliberation on the findings of the research findings, an action taken report was prepared consisting of requirements and recommendations for the state of West Bengal. Afterwards the action report was submitted to the Health Department for the implementation of the recommendations of the first-round table conference on mental health.   

The stakeholders who attended the meeting expressed the requirement of integrated work by all important stakeholders on the subject of Mental Health which led to the conception of West Bengal Forum for Mental Health (WBFMH). In January 2019, the WBFMH was registered as a public trust (No.00417/2019).

The forum is primarily a platform of persons with mental illness, family caregivers, psychologists, social workers and doctors. The forum is following the path of Late Dr. K. L. Narayanan to build a movement to bring the subject of mental health on the forefront in the society as well as at the policy and implementation level of the state government to address the challenge in a collective manner.

The main objectives of the WBFMH are as follows.

1. West Bengal Forum for Mental Health is primarily a forum of family caregivers, psychologists, social workers, and researchers. We are working in the state of West Bengal to make the issue of mental health a priority for all the stakeholders. West Bengal Forum for Mental Health is founded with the objective of tackling growing mental health issues in the state of West Bengal. The forum is a social movement to fight against the taboos and stigmas attached to mental health issues.
2. West Bengal Forum for Mental Health Trust’s mission is to initiate and bring systemic changes in the sphere of mental health care, so that the overall understanding of issues related to mental health can be improved substantially and discriminatory non-therapeutic practices in the treatment of persons with mental health challenges can be gradually eradicated. Translating this mission into a ground reality would imply significant changes at the policy level among other things. Collaboration with the government, therefore, is essential. We believe that institutionalization should be the last resort unless it is absolutely essential as per the advice of the Psychiatrist. We believe that engagement of family and community members is of utmost importance for successful rehabilitation of those with mental illness.
3. WBFMH will mobilize the caregivers of persons with mental health challenges and will provide them support by connecting them with the required services.
4. WBFMH envisions to create a Mental Health Protection Forum at the community level across the state of West Bengal.
5. Our work will entail advocacy along with the Family and Health Department, Govt of West Bengal and with the Government of India (at the concerned government departments) to implement the recommendations of the Roundtable Conference on Mental Health held on 26th December, 2017 as well as on other subjects and issues related to mental health.
6. We run awareness campaigns on mental health issues at the community level by way of poster campaigns, publications of booklets and videos. We envision to take our awareness drive on to the bigger scale through social media, cinema screens and theatres.