: After Son’s Diagnosis, Couple Dedicates A Lifetime To Care For 500 Disabled Patients #IndiaNEWS #Lede When Sulochana and Niraj Beru’s son was diagnosed with an intellectual disability in 1969,

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After Son’s Diagnosis, Couple Dedicates A Lifetime To Care For 500 Disabled Patients #IndiaNEWS #Lede
When Sulochana and Niraj Beru’s son was diagnosed with an intellectual disability in 1969, they experienced first-hand the tribulations of caregiving. It was a time when the stigma around mental health was even more severe, Sulochana says.
“Back in the 70s, society did not treat mental health patients well, and having a person with mental illness at home was a troubling experience for any family. There was a lack of awareness around it, which continues to date,� she tells The Better India.
“Our son was three years old when we first learned of his disability. At first, we didn’t realise he had it, but over time, we noticed his changing behaviour. We visited a few doctors to confirm his condition. It was a shock for us and took time to comprehend,� she recalls.
At least 20 million mentally disabled persons in India have no access to a home or safe shelter. Of the total, about 10 per cent are children. Poor infrastructure and unhygienic conditions of government-established institutes fail to meet their needs and ensure optimal care.
Sulochana with her son.
Sulochana says she tried to admit her son to a school for children with disabilities. But the institutes either said no, or the management ended up asking him to leave after a few months, she adds. “He would often tear his classmates’ books, which became a nuisance for teachers and other students, who complained about him,� she says.
Sulochana adds that her son’s behaviour also started affecting his elder brother.
Teachers and other people close to her suggested she admit her son to a mental hospital. Seeing no other alternative in sight, she decided to follow through with the tiring and painful process.
Creating a safe space
“The process included informing the mental hospital, after which there were procedures to follow up with the police and a hearing at the court. The court needed an explanation about the mental health condition of my child, after which he was permitted to be enrolled. However, admission at the mental hospital would only serve the purpose for a month. He could not be kept longer,� she explains.
Sulochana says the couple suffered for years. “Doctors would perform treatments as per the protocol and release him as stated by the law. But there was no improvement in his mental health. Eventually, we accepted that our son would never heal,� she adds.
The 75-year-old says that there was no place to rehabilitate their son. “While interacting with parents who have children with mental disabilities, we learned that like us, many families were going through the same agony. Many could barely afford medicines or basic healthcare,� she says.

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