Community Mental Health in Uttarakhand
Burans works with disadvantaged communities in Uttarakhand, North India, to promote mental health and wellbeing by building on their strengths and resources
Established 2014
We support care in two districts of Uttarakhand
The crowded, colourful and chaotic informal urban areas of Dehradun
The remote, rural upper Yamuna valley in Naugaon block, Uttarkashi district
We have reached
Impact Stories
Meet Kamla And Her Social Connections
Kamla, who cares for her son who has disability shares how our group programs are improving mental health and social connections.
Over time, being part of this group helped me feel like I belong. When we all meet and talk, I realize others are caregivers too. Somehow it makes my mind feel lighter afterward. Now I visit my new friend from the group for a cup of tea once a week.
– Kamla
Meet Vijay And His Journey of Resilience and Hope
Once a successful man, running a footwear shop in Selaqui, faced a series of personal tragedies, including a brain hemorrhage, his wife’s cancer diagnosis, and his son’s addiction. Despite overwhelming challenges, he found support from Burans staff during our second visit where he began to open up about his life. This is a story of Vijay, who is now hopeful for a better future for himself and his family.
I have fought through these dark times and have now become braver as a result.
– Vijay
Meet Members Of Gramin Vikas Samuh
Through their involvement in the Burans Project-led GVS group, in Naugaon, members learned about their rights and engaged in five training modules. This knowledge empowered them to access government resources, such as agricultural equipment from the Department of Agriculture. Prior to joining the GVS group, many participants were unaware of these rights or the available schemes.
Now that we are informed about our rights, we have benefited from the program.
– GVS Group
Our Approach
Strengthening Community And Public Health Systems
We train community volunteers as well as health providers, informal and traditional healers to support people with mental health problems with psychosocial support groups, home visits, and community-based rehabilitation.
Co-Design With Communities
We work with people “on the edges” to co-design mental health responses that build on their strengths
Innovative Research
Burans is a center for excellence in participatory and equity research for global mental health, engaging with community priorities
Partners
