At a government-run juvenile adoption home in Hyderabad, a 10-year-old boy sits silently in a corner, avoiding eye contact. Months ago, he was adopted by a family hoping to give him a new beginning. But within weeks, he was brought back—withdrawn, anxious, and unable to adjust. For him, it was a painful déjà vu — first abandoned by his biological parents, and then by the family that promised him love.
Stories like his echo through several State-run shelters across Telangana. This World Mental Health Day (October 10), they form the emotional core of Psychiatry At Your Doorstep (PAYD), a mental health initiative by Roshini Trust that is reshaping how psychological support reaches Hyderabad’s most vulnerable communities.
Mental Health at the Doorstep
Launched in 2022, the PAYD program delivers psychiatric consultations, counselling, and free medication directly to people’s homes and to institutional care facilities. The goal is simple yet powerful — to reach those who cannot reach out for help themselves.
“We began with individuals who couldn’t visit clinics, but soon realised the need was far greater in government homes and juvenile centres,” said Shanthi, trustee at Roshini Trust. “There, trauma runs deep — and often, no one is listening.”
Under a formal MoU with the Telangana Department of Women Development and Child Welfare, the PAYD team now works inside juvenile homes, adoption agencies, and child welfare centres across Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Every week, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists from Roshini Trust conduct mental health camps addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, trauma, anger issues, and substance abuse.
Healing Through Play and Empathy
At Shishu Vihar in Ameerpet, PAYD teams perform psychological assessments for children from infancy to adolescence. These evaluations — mandated by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) — help determine IQ levels, disabilities, and emotional readiness before adoption.
However, the work doesn’t end with diagnosis. For older children, particularly those aged 10 to 14, Roshini Trust conducts group therapy sessions using play-based counselling techniques.
“We don’t force conversations. We play, laugh, and connect — and slowly, they open up,” Shanthi explained. “When adoptions fail, we step in again to help both the child and the adoptive parents heal.”
Adoptive families often struggle with behavioural challenges rooted in years of survival trauma. Through counselling, PAYD helps parents understand that recovery takes patience, not punishment.
Restoring Hope in Juvenile Homes
Beyond adoption centres, PAYD operates inside juvenile homes in Saidabad and Gajularamaram, working with children accused in petty crimes or offences under the POCSO Act.
Counsellors provide rehabilitation and emotional therapy, helping them identify triggers, understand consequences, and plan for education or vocational training after release. The visible behavioural improvement among these children has been one of PAYD’s greatest achievements.
“Our psychologists travel over 40 kilometres each week to reach these centres,” Shanthi noted. “When you see a child smile after years of silence, that’s the true reward.”
Partnerships for a Wider Impact
Through collaborations with the Women’s Safety Wing of the Telangana Police and Bharosa, PAYD has also extended its services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Currently, 32 police stations in Hyderabad refer cases for psychiatric evaluation, therapy, and free medication — reaching nearly 250 individuals every month.
A Model for Community Mental Health
As mental health continues to be an overlooked aspect of rehabilitation and child welfare in India, Roshini Trust’s Psychiatry At Your Doorstep stands out as a model of accessible, compassionate mental healthcare.
On this World Mental Health Day, initiatives like PAYD serve as a reminder that healing begins not in hospitals, but in listening, understanding, and showing up where it matters most.