See our recommended NGOs

COOJ Mental Health Foundation is a non-profit organisation that was established in 2000 to bridge the gap between existing services and potential needs in the mental health field in Goa. They work to promote mental well-being by providing psychosocial rehabilitation services, therapeutic practices, and information sharing.

Some of their activities are as follows:

• Rehabilitation: The organisation runs the Sahodaya Rehabilitation Program which offers evidence based therapies in a carefully created, tailor-made treatment plan to suit individual needs. They develop independent living skills of patients to reduce the need for hospital admission. The COOJ sheltered workshop is for those who have been stabilised with basic skills to be employed after Sahodaya. These individuals are provided with a protected environment that enables them to earn basic salary with minimal supervision by making bags, files, cd covers, cards, envelopes and handmade paper for sale. Carer’s Hope and the Friends’ Club are support groups that provide each patient with support, a chance to share experiences, and learn from each other. They also have a continuing education program to help students continue and complete their studies despite mental health issues.
• Awareness Programmes: COOJ conducts educational programs on mental health to work towards dispelling myths about mental health issues and empowering individuals with knowledge to aid in prevention and early detection of these problems. They help youth understand themselves, cope with stress, identify psychological problems, peer pressure, alcohol & substance abuse, depression, and suicide. COOJ organises street plays, public talks, stalls, screening of movies, and distribution of literature. They also conduct workshops on mental illness, cognitive rehabilitation, and possible barriers to persons with mental illness, marriage and mental illness, suicide prevention, the art of listening, as well as stress management and capacity building.
• Suicide Prevention: The organisation works to promote suicide prevention awareness. For this it does capacity building of gatekeepers, operates a suicide prevention helpline, and also runs a suicide survivor support group. Song and dance events, rallies, media interviews, exhibitions, talks, and workshops are conducted to educate general public about suicide being a preventable condition.