To help people who might be affected by anxiety, or sleeplessness in this lockdown period, Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM), a sister organisation of NGO Banyan is offering counselling services.
The NGO along with Chennai Corporation has been running a shelter for homeless men with psychosocial disabilities in San Thome. They have now extended their services to provide phone-based counselling to public.
When asked what made them start this initiative, Dr. Smriti Vallath, Psychologist, The Banyan, and Head of Research, BALM says, “Persons from the margins of society are always more vulnerable, given the multitude of structural barriers in society, they experience on a daily basis. These social stressors have only been amplified in the current scenario, resulting in social losses such as loss of employment, education, access to food etc.”
She says that such losses have psychological ramifications that need to be addressed. And phone-based counselling she says would help in providing people immediate support.
Well experienced psychologists from this organisation will be offering counselling in Tamizh.
People who may need counselling may call the below-mentioned numbers in the specified timings. The services are open on all days.
24570006 : 4 pm – 8 pm
98412 26254 : 8 am – 12 pm
9840325184 : 12 pm – 4 pm
8754475532 : 12 pm – 4 pm
BALM is a mental health and social science research and teaching institution based in Kanchipuram. It can be reached at Ph: 9940592691.
