Good samaritans form Channel Help

They have finally arrived to fill a long-awaited need in society, a society whose members are increasingly succumbing to stress at the wo...

They have finally arrived to fill a long-awaited need in society, a society whose members are increasingly succumbing to stress at the workplace or at home. They’ are a group of professionals who have got together to form an organisation called Channel Help’. The name describes the work they have set out to do.

Says Chaula Patel, a psychologist and president of the organisation, “Channel Help is a pioneering effort made with the aim of meeting the increased need for counselling in our society. The increasing complexity of life, the changing values and needs are evident. The lack of time for introspection and understanding oneself leads to stress and confusion. Most youngsters feel burdened with responsibilities which are viewed as stress-producing. It results in an individual not being what they were meant to be, that is to function from their highest, so as to be a productive and useful member of society. Psychologists know that each of us wants to give our best, but very often do not know how to go about the process. Appropriate guidance at this time, can help avoid a lot of pain and suffering which manifests itself as problems of society like delinquency and addiction, to name a few. And this is where Channel Help comes in with its team of professionals who are willing to assist anyone who ask for help.”

The professionals range from Chaula who is a psychologist, Dr. Rashmi Shinde a gynaecologist, Dr. Gulshan Thukral, a dentist and Chaitanya Purandare, a medical geneticist. There are also legal advisors, educationists and people from as diverse backgrounds as business and real estate. One common aim however, binds them all together as Reggie Aaron, treasurer, puts it succinctly. “I have got a lot from society and I felt that now it is high time that I gave something back to it.”

All of them are offering their services on a voluntary basis, each one helping out in his/her specialised field of action. The organisation has various programmes catering to different needs. Women’s problems come in high on the list. Awareness and information will be provided on legal issues, job-related problems, marital discords and even family planning. This latter issue will be taken up mainly by Shinde who already has been holding such programmes in her clinic.

The geneticist will be helpful for providing information and advice to many parents with children with genetic disorders. Says Purandare, “Parents often don’t understand what has happened to a child with a genetic deformity or disorder. Explaining why it happened, that it is not their fault, can help them to accept and cope with the situation. They also understand how to avoid it the next time, or if it can be avoided or not.”

Geriatrics is another important problem which this organisation is gearing up to tackle. Psychological problems of loneliness and depression, as well as physical health and care will be tackled by doctors and therapists.One of the first things, however, is the problems facing the youth and for this they have already taken the support of various schools by holding workshops and talks especially during PTA (Parent-Teacher Associations). “Some of the principals have been very co-operative,” informs John Bunter, who had at one time started Lifeline’, the organisation to prevent drug addiction in students. By offering group or individual counselling as the need may be, and by offering counselling to parents and children alike, the organisation hopes to bring about a marked change.

As Patel puts it, “Children who are always being criticised by parents or being egged on by them to achieve more in school, face a lot of stress. They need someone other than family to open up to, someone who will listen to them without passing judgments. A third party is essential at this stage to remove the emotional block. Even if we do not offer any positive advice the chance to talk about his problems will cleanse him out and help him to come to terms with himself.”

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“While this is individual counselling, group counselling, helps because then one gets to see that others too, have problems. They are not alone. And the solution can be found in different ways. Group therapy also helps them to get added strength to transcend and overcome that emotional block with each person helping out the other. We learn to shed our own inhibitions too,” continues Patel, who has herself shown exemplary courage in battling cancer with hope and optimism.

The Channel Help group is training more counsellors to help with the workload. At the moment they have their offices in the San Mahu Complex, opposite the Poona Club, but hope to move to a more spacious place later on, where they plan to gradually open a 24-hour helpline service.