What a privilege to teach in the “Mental Health Training Programme” in Mumbai India!   This year long course provides a thorough grounding in key ideas and practices of narrative approaches in working with individuals, families, groups and communities. We’ve named this year’s participants  “The Wow group” – continually inspiring us with their narrative practice skills including applications in mental health, social work, special education, occupational therapy.

What is the Ummeed Child Development Center?

1614599_1485239931702351_1318751525_o “Ummeed” means “hope” in Hindi. The Ummeed Child Development Center is a non-profit organization in Mumbai, India  with the mission of “helping children with developmental disabilities, or at high risk for disabilities, reach their maximum potential and be included in society.” The Founder and Medical Director, Dr. Vibha Krishnamurthy began Ummeed in 1998 after returning to India from Boston where she was inspired by  developmental paediatrics  resources available to children and their families at The Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, The Children’s Hospital and community.

What began about fifteen years ago as a small center in Mumbai for identifying and treating children with developmental disabilities, now has become a thriving non-profit organization with about 50 staff, offering a range of specialized services for children and their families (from pediatric assessments to therapies), as well as many interdisciplinary programmes such as in Early Intervention, Autism, and School-based services.

For an more in depth glimpse:

  • Check out their website here
  • Watch a briefYoutube here
  • Visit (and like) the Ummeed Facebook page here
  • Review developments during the first half of 2014 here

Mental Health Training Programme

shona-jeh-maggie

Shona Russell, Jehanzeb Baldiwala & Maggie Carey

In collaboration with Narrative Practices Adelaide, Ummeed created The Mental Health Training Programme  (MHTP) – with a focus on training candidates to provide family-centered  therapeutic support for children with disabilities and their families. The Course Program uniquely combines teaching blocks,  practical experience and continuous mentoring support from Ummeed’s Mental Health Team.  Click here to learn more about the vision for this training program.

Planning has begun for the next year long programme, which begins in March, 2015.  Click here to closely view the flyer on the left.   For further information, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

Acknowledgements

The Ummeed Mental Health Team

The Ummeed Mental Health Team

I extend deep gratitude to Shona Russell, Maggie Carey, Jehanzeb Baldiwala, Daisy Daruwalla, Jill Sanghvi, Shamin Mehrotra, Vibha Krishnamurthy, the incredible participants in the 2013 and 2014 training groups- and to all (behind the scenes) who contribute to making this experience so special. I’m already looking forward to next year!