Friends Of Antara UK

Friends of Antara UK is an entirely voluntary run organisation which aims to tackle mental illness and poverty.

We are a diverse group of people united by a passionate belief in the need to address mental health problems in resource-poor areas.

• Mental illnesses are responsible for an estimated 14% of the Global Burden of Disease (illness and death) yet receive only 1% of world health expenditure.
• Mental illness has been connected to absolute and relative poverty.
• The availability of mental health services is worst in areas of greatest need.

We offer support through partner organisations providing accessible mental healthcare and ways out of the social and economic problems connected with it.

Our work started from the experiences of volunteers to Antara, a mental health non-governmental organisation in India. They witnessed people affected by mental illness, poverty and the vicious cycles that connect them. We decided to act, believing that simple human support of respect and friendship must go alongside the development of mental health facilities and services.

Friends of Antara UK works at both national and local levels and our activities include:

• Fundraising,
• Raising Awareness,
• Direct Support
• Research and Cooperation

 
Can you help us tackle mental illness and poverty?

 

Friends of Antara UK is registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales.

Antara

Antara is a non-governmental (NGO) which aims to provide mental healthcare accessible even to the most disadvantaged in India.

It was founded in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1971 by a group of psychiatrists and social workers who were concerned by the chronic lack of care for those affected by mental illness.

Less than 1% of India's health budget is spent on mental health and there are only 2-3 psychiatrists per million people, despite the prevalance of psychological disorders. Antara is one of a handful of NGOs which provide a valuable and substantial adjunct to the government mental health services.

The main centre of Antara’s activities, "Antaragram"  is situated in a rural district of West Bengal. It also operates through satellite clinics and health camps for remote rural and inner-city communities and has a separate rehabilitation centre.

It provides evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation services including 200 inpatient beds for men, women and children affected by mental illness or substance abuse problems, outpatient care to over 1600 people each week and extensive community based activities. It is actively involved in training nursing mental health and social workers and mental healthcare development.

Antara’s services are extended on a means-tested basis to all who seek help, irrespective of caste, colour or creed. Friends of Antara UK is a response to the challenges Antara faces in ensuring a high quality of healthcare can be provided to the most disadvantaged on a sustainable basis.