Save the children

There is anger. And frustration, when you realise that it could have been stopped. The outrage after the rape of a mentally challenged minor in a Mumbai local train, will continue. On October 12, Bangalore will meet to discuss this and more, as they recognise World Mental Health Day with their theme -- `Children - violence and trauma''.
Organised by the Karnataka Association for Psychiatric Disability and Rotary, Bangalore West, four speakers from inter-related fields will conduct a forum open to the public.While October will be recognised as World Mental Health month, one day will be set aside for this discussion.
"Every year, the theme is determined partly by collective concern and partly by prevailing circumstances. The theme, which is the effect of trauma and violence on children couldn''t have been tabled at a more crucial time," says one of the speakers Dr Shekar Seshadri, additional professor of psychiatry, NIMHANS.
He believes that during both natural or man-made disasters it is children who are most affected. And when the issue is violence, it encompasses everything from trafficking and physical abuse to domestic violence and child labour. "It''s not just violence perpetrated on children but also children who are looking at violence. The four issues are domestic violence, incestual violence, trafficking and marginalisation of the disabled." It is also in this context that groups working with disabilities will meet.
Adds Prof Dr M Prakash Appaya, professor and head, department of psychiatry, St John''s Medical College, "All these traumatic incidents result in the kind of adult they become. We believe that what you remember of your childhood is a stable memory."
These speakers will also talk about common approaches that address healing. "How they are traumatised, healing, rehabilitation and prevention are all issues that will be discussed," says Dr Appaya, adding, "For these very people could have a nervous breakdown or become maladjusted." To deal with the issue of healing, nurses at St John''s will be put through a small inhouse workshop on how to deal with children going through the trauma of amputation.
Vasudeva Murthy, co-ordinator, Richmond Fellowship Society, adds, "Now is the time to address these issues. We are also looking at prevention from the family and education perspective." Since KAPD is networking with other NGOs, they have identified Dr Seshadri, Dr K Sekar, assistant professor of psychiatric and social work, NIMHANS, Dr Ali Khwaja, chairman, Banjara Academy and Rev Fr Edward, Director, Bosco Yuvodaya to speak at the evening to be held at the Rotary Club, Lavelle Road on October 12. "We have a mixed bag," adds Murthy.
The children of Bosco Mane will perform a skit on how they were found by the police and brought to the home.