Debjani*, aged 9, was one of the first patients to be admitted to the new children’s ward in Sept 2005. She came to Antara from a children’s home where she had been living for the past 4yrs after his mother (who suffered from mental-health problems herself) was unable to look after her. She had no contact with her father as her parents were not married. The home’s medical superintendent brought Debjani to see the Child guidance team as she had become unmanageable – she had broken an arm climbing on window gratings which fell onto her.

Her problems were first recognised two years ago. Debjani had ADHD, was restless and would beat other children, was aggressive and abusive, wet her bed and had to get her own way all the time. She was an average student but she was poor at peer group adjustment. The psychiatric social worker believed that many of Debjani’s problems originated from underlying depression following from feelings of being unloved. She was anxious and this led to her behavioural problems.

Staff and volunteers noted Debjani was very intelligent and aware of what was going on around her. Her moods fluctuated and she expressed an intense feeling of emptiness and a death wish for not having proper parental care.  She had always been deprived of maternal love.

She had a foster mother who would look after her once she left Antara but Debjani did not feel any closeness to her. Instead Dejani wanted Antara to find out where her father is and for him to stay in Antara with her. She found it difficult to adjust to the other children who had their mother’s with them. She did express interest to continue her studies and would draw many pictures, read and write. At Antara she was given various therapies including anti-ADHD drugs, social-skills training, attention enhancement tasks and behavioural therapy.