Schizophrenia Outreach in Larkana
Schizophrenia Outreach in Larkana
The SOUL programme is a unique, innovative and charitable community-based outreach mental health programme operating within the city of Larkana, Sindh, which is aimed at recognition, diagnosis, treatment and psychosocial recovery of patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia. SOUL programme was developed through collaboration of psychiatry department, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University and Sindh Doctor’s Association UK (a registered charity of doctors originating from Sindh since 1979) in 2010 and formally launched in January 2011. The programme has now entered 12th year of operation, with a caseload of nearly 200 patients, who have a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia.
How You Can Get Involved
Clinician Program
As a medical clinician, you may volunteer to work patients in Larkana if you are located nearby. There are also options to work remotely and provide telehealth to Larkana over the internet.
Monthly Donations
You may provide a small monthly donation for as little as £5 per month. This small donation would help us provide further services and scale our operations.
One time donation
We also accept one time donations to the cause. These one time donations can help us fund our operations and scale them further.
What We Do
The SOUL Programme is an indigenous and innovative mental health initiative, developed with the aim of demonstrating a low-cost model of delivering care and psychosocial support to people suffering with severe mental illness (schizophrenia / psychosis).
The programme is targeted at the treatment of psychotic illness / schizophrenia and designed to engage with local community including families.
Our Current Impact
The model of service delivery offers a pragmatic & low-cost solution to the serious gap in the provision of care for people with severe and enduring mental health disorders. Approximately two thirds of patients have achieved symptom resolution and nearly 30% of patients have achieved functional recovery.
The SOUL Programme has visibly impacted on the perceptions and attitudes of the patients, families and local community. The myth relating to psychotic disorders is being broken and the positive impact of the treatment is very much visible among the families and communities.
Ongoing Causes
Recognition, treatment and psychological support
The initial home visit involves joint assessment by the SOUL Team psychiatrist and mental health nurse to arrive at diagnosis and a treatment plan and a regular home visits and monitoring.
Communication & Engagement with Families
Active communication and engagement with families and immediate care givers, provision of education and information on supporting people with psychosis & hosting regular family assemblies.
Social Recovery
Aiming for social recovery of the patients by offering them vocational skills training and education at the Faizan Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre commenced since January 2022.
Register your interest to volunteer for SOUL Telepsychiatry Initiative
The SOUL Programme has planned to start telepsychiatry consultation sessions for the local community in Larkana for diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. These sessions will be hosted at the SOUL program head office on weekends.
The consultation will be offered by team of experienced and qualified consultant psychiatrists from UK, USA and overseas, who will volunteer their time at their convenience.
The income and proceeds generated from these consultations will go towards the charitable fund for the Faizan Nazar Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, SOUL Programme.
Interested psychiatrists can express their interest to volunteer for this role by emailing: soulprogrammelarkana@gmail.com.
Innovative Rehabilitation
The SOUL Programme has initiated an additional service for its patients who have achieved clinical and social recovery through opening of Faizan Rehabilitation Centre in the city centre of Larkana Town since January 2022. This multipurpose Centre employs vocational skills acquisition as medium of psychosocial recovery and rehabilitation of patients recovering from severe mental (schizophrenia).
The proposed project is aimed at capacity building and empowering patients with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe anxiety and depressive disorders
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
If you would like to get in touch regarding any of our initiatives, alternative donation pathways or other things please do reach out via the form below.