-Sheersha Roy
Intern, May- July 2024
Why Advocacy?
Therapy, like any other institutional construct, has been created for the betterment of society. Often, this space is considered to be highly individualized in examining people at the micro level and the therapist is the medium through which ‘healing’ occurs. As time goes by, this becomes increasingly isolated from the context, as we try to fix personal problems. The disconnect with systemic issues puts the onus on recovery and looking for growth in the individual. There are two ways from here, either to suffer in silence created by stigma and isolation or to collectively bring systemic inequalities to the forefront. The recent controversies with the RCI guidelines in the education sector have brought some attention to this, but an effort to look at mental health holistically is the call of the hour.
As a mental health professional, the responsibility of the client should not be limited to the boundaries of the therapy space and address the socioeconomic, and gendered experiences of individuals. For instance, therapy for someone from a marginalized background can mean more than just an opportunity to process experiences but also have access to better resources and networks. Mental healthcare can be emancipatory, if the intersectional nature of identities is understood, lending agency to both the client and the therapist. In India, the presence of multiple differentiating parameters such as caste, class, religion, language, etc can make it difficult to empathize with every lived experience, and thus, advocacy enters the picture.
Where do we start?
The first step to advocacy involves the examination of the positional power a therapist has over their client. Today, popular designations such as ‘queer-affirmative therapists’ or ‘feminist therapists’ are on the rise and similar identities of clients and therapists can make it easier for the relationship to flourish. Yet, the scenario also makes it easier for the therapist to look at clients only from the frames of reference they have of themselves. Therefore, integrating systemic awareness into practice is essential in supporting clients. To do this, smaller steps to collaborate with other professionals, community organizations, and policymakers must be taken to be able to refer for help when one cannot provide it through therapy. A simple example of this can be the amount of farmer suicides we witness today. Although this can be looked at as a mental health issue, it is largely systemic with multiple stakeholders in question. It will be important to know about the various other ways through which tangible resources can be made accessible to farmers in question.
Moving towards a rights-based approach
Human rights violations are common in the mental healthcare space too, where it can become unsafe and violent to seek help. Advocacy allows for it to become more humane, to psycho-educate, and to stand against violations that can emerge from care practices. A notable example of the importance of advocacy in mental healthcare is the case of Suchita Srivastava v/s Chandigarh Administration wherein a woman with intellectual disability was found to be pregnant while residing in a government institution due to an alleged rape. The case led to a negotiation of the existing mental health laws, highlighting client autonomy and professional accountability.
Even with very advanced mental health infrastructure, it is a fact that many are not able to access and afford quality therapy. Thus, therapists and mental health professionals must take an active role in promoting social change. Whether this occurs through social media, on-ground engagement, or within the walls of the therapy room, the need arises now more than ever.
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