FAQs

Rehabilitation of Psychiatric Patients

The main activity of the Trust is to rehabilitate abandoned mental patients wandering on the roads. Such patients are brought to Navajeevan Bhavan by the trust volunteers, now mainly by Police. They are taken to the hospital the next day for detailed check up and  treatment.

How to become a volunteer?

We need volunteers to help in the activities of the trust.  Those who are willing to do volunteer service can contact in the office in person or through mail or phone. There is no age limit and any one with service attitude can join their hands with Navajeevan.   Rehabilitation of psychiatric patients roaming on the streets is one of the major activities. The police officials inform Thomas Chettan of such people. At times good hearted individuals inform him. The trust has its own ambulance which takes them to Navajeevan. There   they are   transformed to proper human beings through caring, bathing, head dressing and proper clothing. Then, they are taken to the hospital for treatment.  The volunteers look after their needs. Normally after two or three months of treatment they regain their consciousness and return to a normal life.

Ever since the establishment of Navajeevan, Thomas Chettan also carried out his early mission of helping the poor patients in hospitals on a large scale. Today Navajeevan has its own vehicles and volunteers. Some of the volunteers are always available in these hospitals especially in the causality wards when emergency cases arrive at any time of the day and night.  When accidents occur and patients are brought in large numbers, the volunteers rush to the hospitals and arranges for blood, medicine and they do whatever is needed.

Full time volunteers are stationed in Medical College Hospital to take care of helpless bed-ridden patients with no bystanders and money. They locate such patients in all wards and casualty. They provide physical support, proper food, supplement medicines, conduct lab tests, and on recovery provide free ambulance to take them back home.  Blood donation for poor patients especially those who don’t have relatives support is also arranged.

The volunteers of Navajeevan also put earnest efforts to make these government hospitals a better place. Medical College owns a beautiful garden and a green campus through the efforts “Clean and Green” initiated by Navajeevan.

How to donate to Navajeevan?

Navajeevan runs its activities through voluntary donations only.  Donors may please send their remittances through RTGS/NEFT to NAVAJEEVAN TRUST

SAVINGS BANK ACCOUNT NO. 57011374494 with STATE BANK OF TRAVANCORE, MEDICAL COLLEGE BRANCH, KOTTAYAM (Code 70111) IFSC Code SBTR0000111. As the Trust is not registered under FCRA, NRIs may use their NRE/NRO Account for donations to the above account by checque, NEFT/RTGS through Internet Banking Facility. DONATIONS IN CASH ARE ACCEPTED ONLY  IN THE TRUST OFFICE AT PANAMPALAM, ARPOOKARA   (2 Kms from Kottayam Med. College – 5 min. walk from Kolettu Temple Junction by Karipputhattu Bus). NAVAJEEVAN TRUST has not authorized any person or agency to collect donations on behalf of the Trust.As full donor details are not available through Bank account, donors may please send an email giving full postal address for mailing receipt.  EXEMPTIONS u/s 80(G)(5)(vi) of the Income Tax Act are available for donations to NAVAJEEVAN TRUST

What is Navajeevan?

Navajeevan is a Public Charitable Trust registered under Trust act. Navajeevan Trust is one of the leading psychiatric care centers (312 bedded) established for the acute management and community based psychological rehabilitation for the abandoned and destitute psychiatric patients wandering on the roads. Around 2000 patients have been cared and rehabilitated to their own homes. Currently we provide residential care treatment facilities for more than 250 patients suffering from various psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, Mood disorder, Personality disorders, Substance related disorders, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease etc. At Navajeevan Trust, bed ridden patients too are taken care of, who are not able to move for their needs. Providing food to poor patients in Government hospitals started in a humble manner, by Shri Thomas in 1969, for the first time in Medical College Hospital. Later, it has picked up momentum and now has been extended to two other Government hospitals namely, Dist.Hospital, Kottayam and ICH, Kottayam. At present around 5000 poor patients and bystanders receive our free food daily.

What are the admission formalities?

Navajeevan trust is established for the acute management and community based psychological rehabilitation for the abandoned and destitute psychiatric patients wandering on the roads.
The admissions are accepted for Residential care treatment on the basis of referrals and recommendations of the Police and other concerned government personnel. Before taking to Navajeevan the patient must be shown to a psychiatrist.

Application for the admission should be made in a Prescribed form (available in the centre) along with:-

to bring:

1. The Reference letter from the concerned police stations
2. All the past treatment records and prescriptions,(if available)
3. 2 photos of the Patient and Photo Identity and address proof of the patient and the Guardian(if available)
4. Complete all the file formalities with proper information,
5. Provide detailed Case History of the patient and other information,
6. Physical fitness from Physician (If the patient is having any physical problem).

How are the arrangements for accommodation?

Various types of Accommodation are available – each floor is considered as a Unit, wherein 25-30 residents stay together. Each house has an adequate number of Counselors, Nurses and other supporting Staffs to supervise and support.

How do you decide about, whom the patient has to be accommodated with,

Initially, the patient will get admitted to the Observation Unit and he/she has to stay there till the acute symptoms get settled. This will help them, to understand the nature of treatment and develop motivation to follow the treatment. Psychiatric Social Workers and other Professionals develop a working relationship with the client during this phase and motivate them to get in to the structured daily schedule and the other necessary treatment lines. Once they are settled, the patient will be shifted to other blocks where manageable residents are availing the Rehabilitation Programme. Treatment is free of cost and our centre is meant for the abandoned and destitute psychiatric patients wandering on the roads.

How do you decide about the discharge?

This depends purely on the improvement of the Resident. It is a collective decision taken by the resident, treating Professionals and the Family. It requires having Regular & Continuous Follow up Consultations, Medicines and Counseling. Thomas Chettan takes special efforts to collect their   address,   inform them of such lost family members. Many of them are cured and sent back along with their relatives.  At times relatives are not willing to take them back. Navajeevan is very particular to make special enquiries about the financial condition and willingness of their families because the trust   considers   that it is their responsibility to see that such people once rescued should not be thrown to the streets.

Do you consult with the Doctor about the treatment?

Yes. We do give Regular Feedback to the referring Doctor. The treating Psychiatrist at Navajeevan  will make whatever medication-changes required from time to time, based on improvement, deterioration, side effects etc. in addition to it, we have visiting psychiatrists too.

For any clarification:- Contact Mr. P U Thomas (Mob.: 09447366701)