Vandrevala Foundation

2021-08-12T14:13:59Z

2409:4040:E93:448:20CE:59C5:2981:2708:

{{Infobox organization
| name =''The Cyrus and Priya Vandrevala Foundation''
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| type =[[NGO]]
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| founder =Cyrus Vandrevala and Priya Vandrevala
| established = 2008
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| website = {{Official website|http://www.vandrevalafoundation.com/}}
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The '''Vandrevala Foundation''' is an [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]] established by Cyrus Vandrevala and Priya Vandrevala in 2008.<ref>https://www.vandrevalafoundation.com/about-us</ref><ref name="Vandrevala Foundation">{{cite news |title=Vandrevala foundation moves to improve Maharashtra mental health care |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/vandrevala-foundation-moves-to-improve-maharashtra-mental-health-care-114092100167_1.html |access-date=1 March 2021 |publisher=Business Standard India |date=21 September 2014}}</ref> In 2009, it established the "Mental Health - India" initiative<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> to raise awareness for and provide services to [[Mental disorder|mentally ill or emotionally distressed]] individuals. Priya Vandrevala is the estranged daughter of [[Niranjan Hiranandani]]; father and daughter are fighting several cases in court against each other.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/08/trump-inauguration-money-shell-companies-revealed |title=Trump inauguration took money from shell companies tied to foreigners; Creators of firms that donated revealed by Guardian as Indian financier, lobbyist with links to Taiwan and Israeli real estate developer |author=Jon Swaine |date=8 March 2019 |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref>

The organisation operates multiple [[crisis helpline]]s in key Indian cities with the collaboration of Emmanuel Hospital Association, [[St Stephen's Hospital Delhi]] and the Mar Thoma Church.<ref>{{cite web|author=New Delhi, Feb 10, 2012, DHNS |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/226284/kids-strain-nerves-meet-parents.html |title=Kids strain nerves to meet parents' expectations |website=Deccanherald.com |date=2012-02-10 |access-date=2016-01-01}}</ref> Its efforts have been noted by the media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-15/mumbai/30401101_1_mental-health-sion-hospital-suicides |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131104100930/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-15/mumbai/30401101_1_mental-health-sion-hospital-suicides |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-11-04 |title=Hospital module to read signs of a disturbed mind |date=2011-11-15 |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2016-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-13/delhi/30274573_1_24-hour-helpline-helpline-number-vandrevala-foundation |title=24-hour helpline for psychiatric services to people |date=2011-10-13 |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2016-01-01}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/24h-helpline-for-psychiatric-services/855424.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131104101011/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/24h-helpline-for-psychiatric-services/855424.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-11-04|title=CNN-IBN News: Breaking News India, Latest News, Current Headlines World - IBNLive |website=Ibnlive.in.com |access-date=2016-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-20/mumbai/29563844_1_mental-health-suicidal-tendencies-helpline |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131104101017/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-20/mumbai/29563844_1_mental-health-suicidal-tendencies-helpline |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-11-04 |title=Suicide helpline witnesses a dip in distress calls |date=2011-05-20 |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2016-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moneylife.in/article/mind-care-for-mental-help/8054.html |title=Mind Care For Mental Help - Moneylife |website=Moneylife.in |access-date=2016-01-01}}</ref>

The [[helpline]] can be reached via the toll free number '''+91 9999 666 555''', or through WhatsApp '''+1 256 666 2142''' or email '''help@vandrevalafoundation.com'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vandrevalafoundation.com/ |title=Vandrevala Foundation Helpline|date=2021-07-12 |access-date=2021-07-12}}</ref>

==History==

The Vandrevala Foundation's charitable activities include mental health care, has in the year 2014 had submitted a plan to the [[Maharashtra]] government to improve services in mental health institutions in the state.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> This is in response to a published report of World Health Organization(WHO) which placed India as being in top in the world for suicides.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> As per foundation's report India had 43 mental health hospitals and all being established before 1947 and many of them are in such a bad shape for people with mental illness to visit and seek guidance. [[World Health Organization]](WHO) in its report estimated that out of 8,04,000 suicides in the world in the year 2012 around 2,58,000 are from India(99,997 women and 1,58,098 men) and the highest rate being seen among people aged between 15 years to 29 years.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> Report claims India's suicide rate was 21.1 per 1,00,000 people.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> The foundation has also entered into an agreement with the Director-General of Shipping in India to serve as the official mental health helpline for Indian sailors and their families around the globe.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> The "Mental Health-India" initiative was launched in 2009 by the Vandrevala Foundation established by London-based billionaire couple Priya Hiranandani-Vandrevala and Cyrus Vandrevala (who are originally from [[Mumbai]]).<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> One of the objectives of the initiative is to prevent possible attempts of suicide by providing advice and assistance in English, Hindi, and all major Indian regional languages.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> Helpline had been created and started as a topmost priority as many individuals, most people know they need help but are not sure where it is available.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> In five years since its launch the foundation had handled 0.5 million cases.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" />

A recent study by University of Oxford concluded that serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and recurrent depression reduces life expectancy by about seven to 20 years-a loss of years which is equivalent to or worse than that for heavy smokers.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> One of the doctors of Foundation, Dr.John, says the foundation addresses the entire spectrum of mental health issues from anxiety and depression through to schizophrenia and suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" /> He also reiterated that although mental health problems and illnesses are disorders of the brain many people consider them as a 'character flaw' or a 'personal weakness' or even 'demonic possession', and as a result majority of people with mental health problems won't seek help for fear of being labeled negatively."

Priya Hiranandani-Vandrevala further elaborated that when Cyrus and herself decided on making mental health a focal point for their Foundation, they were not aware of the gravity of the situation and how mental illness can have an effect on life expectancy of people. However, the study from the University of Oxford has highlighted this issue.<ref name="Vandrevala Foundation" />

==Operations==
The Vandrevala Foundation operates its helpline on a virtual platform on a PAN INDIA level with counsellors based out of every state and capable of dealing with cases in regional language. This is made possible through their new cloud telephony based seamless service.

Through their website [https://www.vandrevalafoundation.com Vandrevala Foundation] a person in distress can approach the counsellor through voice call, chat, WhatsApp, social media and email.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.vandrevalafoundation.com/ Official Website]
{{Mental Health in India}}

[[Category:Mental health organisations in India]]
[[Category:Crisis hotlines]]
[[Category:Non-profit organisations based in India]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2008]]

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Vandrevala Foundation