Dawa
Dawa refers to appropriate medical treatment and professional mental-health care. The project encourages recognition of mental-health concerns and access to qualified healthcare when clinical assessment and intervention are needed.
Psychiatric Trust India
Dawa-Dua Project
Bridging Faith, Community & Mental Healthcare
A culturally sensitive community initiative designed to improve mental-health awareness, encourage early intervention and make professional mental healthcare more accessible to communities where faith-based and traditional approaches are often the first source of support.
Community Mental Health
Culturally sensitive care
Introducing the Initiative
Making Mental Healthcare More Accessible
Mental-health concerns affect people across communities, yet many individuals do not reach formal mental-health services when they first experience difficulties.
In many communities, people may initially seek support from religious places, faith healers, traditional healers or other community-based sources. The Dawa-Dua Project was developed in response to this reality.
The initiative explores ways of creating bridges between community faith practices and appropriate mental-health awareness and professional support, while respecting people's cultural and spiritual contexts.
The Dawa-Dua Approach
Two Dimensions of Support
The project recognises that spiritual beliefs and professional mental healthcare can both be meaningful parts of a person's understanding of wellbeing.
Dua
Dua represents prayer, faith and spiritual practices that may hold personal meaning for individuals and families. The initiative seeks to understand these beliefs respectfully while promoting appropriate mental-health support.
Why Community Engagement Matters
Reaching People Where They Are
Improving access to mental healthcare also means understanding the social, cultural and community pathways through which people seek help.
Reduce Stigma
Open and respectful conversations can help people recognise mental-health concerns without shame or unnecessary fear.
Encourage Early Recognition
Better awareness among families and community members can support earlier recognition of possible mental-health difficulties.
Connect With Care
Community awareness can help individuals reach qualified mental-health professionals when assessment or treatment is appropriate.
Community Participation
Building Bridges Within Communities
The Dawa-Dua Project focuses on engaging people who already play important roles within their communities.
Community leaders, religious leaders, folk healers, imams and health workers can become important partners in improving mental-health literacy and encouraging appropriate referral when concerns are identified.
01
Community Awareness
Increase understanding of mental-health concerns, common symptoms and the importance of seeking appropriate help.
02
Community Leader Engagement
Engage trusted community members who can help communicate mental-health information within culturally familiar settings.
03
Early Identification
Improve recognition of signs that may indicate a need for professional mental-health assessment.
04
Appropriate Referral
Encourage connection with qualified mental-health services when professional evaluation or treatment is required.
Capacity Building
Two-Level Volunteer Training
The project includes a structured approach to strengthening mental-health knowledge within communities.
01
Community Mental Health Volunteers
The first level focuses on individuals with basic educational qualifications who can speak different languages and develop an understanding of fundamental mental-health concepts. They can help communicate awareness messages and identify situations that may require further attention.
02
Community-Level Support
The second level focuses on people working directly within their communities, providing them with knowledge and practical skills that can support mental-health awareness, community participation and appropriate connection to professional services.
Research & Collaboration
Learning From Community-Based Mental Healthcare
The existing project description highlights research work undertaken in partnership with NIMHANS at a Dargah, with an emphasis on community participation and mental-health education.
Such community-based work can help researchers and healthcare professionals better understand how people interpret mental-health concerns, where they seek help, and how culturally responsive pathways to professional care can be developed.
Respectful, evidence-informed engagement
The purpose is not to replace professional
psychiatric care with faith-based practices.
Instead, the initiative focuses on culturally
sensitive engagement, mental-health literacy,
early recognition and appropriate access to
qualified care.
Our Vision
Towards More Accessible Mental Healthcare
The Dawa-Dua Project aims to contribute to a mental-health system in which people can approach care without having to abandon the cultural and spiritual contexts that are meaningful to them.
Accessible
Improve pathways through which individuals and families can reach appropriate mental-health support.
Community-Centred
Work with trusted community networks to improve awareness and encourage constructive conversations about mental health.
Visit Us
#150/24, Kodigehalli Main Road,
Sahakar Nagar, Bengaluru 560092
Call Us
+91 99007 50017
Email Us
info@mindandbrainhospital.in