SOUMITRA PATHARE AND ARJUN KAPOOR

Savitabai, 45, is a single mother living in a remote village in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. She works as a daily wage earner on the farmland of a wealthy farmer. Savitabai’s son Dhaval, 20, suffers from bipolar disorder (BPD), a severe mental health condition which is characterised by extreme mood swings— long spells of manic behaviour and bouts of depression. Dhaval’s condition causes severe disruption in his daily routine. Given the severity of his condition, he requires medical care and support especially through phases when his symptoms are most acute.

Savitabai is the sole earner and unable to provide care on a regular basis. Lack of awareness about BPD and the stigma surrounding mental illness do not help matters, and other community members are not forthcoming in their support either. The nearest community health centre, which a psychiatrist attends once a week, is more than 50 km away. Travelling to the centre means losing a day’s wages, something Savitabai can ill afford. The alternative, as suggested by her community, is to get Dhaval treated by the local village faith healer. It is less expensive but it does not assure a positive outcome for Dhaval’s mental health. His symptoms recur despite numerous rituals and ceremonies. Dhaval needs a trained mental health professional who can provide treatment and psycho-social support in the community, but both these services