PROJECT NEOMA
In the year 2015, Ratheesh started his first clinic in a remote village in Kasaragod district, Kerala. This clinic intended to serve the mental health needs of the Endosulphan affected, poor, tribal, and underprivileged persons, free of cost. Before this, they would have to travel more than hundred kilometers for any mental health support. The clinic helped in early identification, providing education and awareness and being a mediating channel for accessing tertiary healthcare. About hundreds of people from the village benefitted, and as a result, the services were extended to other parts of the district.
Due to Covid-19, these services were switched to an online mode with more therapists led by Revaleena, to ensure mental health care to individuals to cope with this stressful time. While doing so, they realized that there’s a bigger need in the marginalized population who cannot afford mainstream therapy services, so they began offering tele-counseling services, pro-bono, for people all over India. Thousands of people accessed the counseling services with problems such as anxiety, depression, suicidality and so on.
THE FIRST CHAPTER
Menadora Foundation was registered under the Companies Act, 2013 as a Section 8 Company on March2021. The discussion to start the first chapter with The Banyan began in the month of May 2021. The Emergency Care and Recovery Center in partnership with St. Thomas Charitable Trust, the Tiruvallur Collectorate, National Health Mission and The Banyan was set to begin in September 2021.