Category: Recent Activities

Daylong workshop on Parenting of Children was held on 11th December, 2016 at DANA which was attended by more than 30 participants. The main speakers were Dr Amit Chakraborty, Dr Gautam Bandyopadhyay, Dr Sheila Banerjee, Dr Sayandip Ghosh, Bandana Mukherjee and Mohit Ranadip. There was live interaction between resource persons and the parcipants throughout the sessions. Participants requested for arranging a separate workshop on Parenting of Adolescents. This workshop will he held on 12th February, 2017. Interested persons including parents and teachers may contact DANA reception (9051252231) between 12 & 8 pm for registration.

DIAGNOSTIC AND APPLIED NEURO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
(D A N A)

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2015 – 2016

To be Presented in the Annual General Meeting of DANA in its Registered Office on 26th June, 2016 at 12-00 noon.

Diagnostic and Applied Neuro-psychological Association (DANA) is a registered non-profit organization which was established on February 10, 2000 by a group of Professional Mental Health Workers with a noble mission to render services to the community for promoting mental health status of the same. DANA continues its work as a registered NGO since 2002, though in fact it has completed sixteen years of its existence. At present, there are Total 29 Members i.e. (namely 14 General Members, 1 Honorary Member and12 Life Members) and 47 Associate Members.

The Executive Committee of DANA for 2014-2016 consists of Dr. Amal Kr. Mallick as President, Dr. Sheila Banerjee as Vice-President, Dr. Sayandip Ghosh as Secretary, Mrs. Pallabi Mukhopadhyay as Jt. Secretary, Mr. Pranab Kumar Moitra as Treasurer, Dr. Amit Chakraborty, Dr. Gautam Bandopadhyay, Mrs. Sutapa Chakraborty, Mrs. Bandana Mukherjee, Mrs. Ratna Mitra and Mrs. Rita Roy as Members. Mrs. Sutapa Chakraborty as Co-ordinator helped towards smooth functioning of DANA.
DANA Study Centre Advisory Subcommittee was formed with Dr Sheila Banerjee who was Course Coordinator till July 2015, Sri Pranab Kr Moitra (Treasurer), Dr Amal Kr Mallick, Dr. Debasish Bhattacharya, Dr Amit Chakraborty, Dr Gautam Bandopadhyay,Dr Sayandip Ghosh(Secretary as Convener) to make policy decisions- financial as well as academic and administrative to be implemented by the Course Coordinator regarding University- affiliated Diploma Course in Counselling and Behaviour Management. However in the 2015-16 sessions DANA organized one year Diploma Course in Counselling and Behavior Management independent of any affiliation with Mrs. Rita Ray as Course Coordinator.

The Executive Committee Meetings were held on 12th July, 10th August, 2nd November, 2015 8th January, and 12th March2016.

Different Activities of DANA (April, 2015 to March 2016)

A – Clinical Services

The services offered by DANA can be accessed from the following statistics. The professionals of DANA were associated with:

(1) Cases Registered : – 1246
B – Extension Services
1. Counselling Course
DANA started One -year Post Graduate Diploma Course in Counselling and Behaviour Management. It was inaugurated on 16th August 2015 and the classes started as usual. This session was inaugurated by Dr Ujjal Banerjee an Educationist. Theory classes on different subjects related to Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychological Counselling and allied disciplines were held on Sundays from 11.00 a.m. to 01:00p.m. and again from 01:00 04:00 p.m.6 students from different streams participated in the Course. Practical classes were held under the guidance of professionals of DANA. Mrs Rita Roy acted as Course Coordinator.
2. Public Awareness Programme
(a) An Art Therapy unit has been formed by DANA. Committee consists of Dr Amal Kr Mallick, Dr Debasis Bhattacharya, Dr Amit Chakraborty, Dr Sayandip Ghosh, Dr Rahul Bhattacharya, Mrs Subhra Banerjee Paul and Mr Harit Basu. Art Therapy Project has been continuing in DANA premises. Mrs Subhra Banerjee Paul as Psychologist and Mr Harit Basu as artist are associated with the regular functioning of the project. DANA has earlier collaborated with ‘PARIPURNATA’, a rehabilitation centre for psychologically ill clients. DANA has also collaborated this year with ‘BHALO ACHI’, another such rehabilitation centre where Dr. Subir Bandopadhyay as psychologist and Mr. Harit Basu as artist conducted several sessions on Art Therapy
(b) On 26th September 2015, Dr.Sayandip Ghosh presented a paper on “Art Therapy” as an adjunctive Treatment for Adult Psychiatric Patients” at a conference organized by “WORLD PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION” –Regional Congress held at Kochi. The seminar presented a compilation of studies on 12 patients who participated in Art Therapy sessions at DANA from August 2013-July 2015.
(c) DANA organized a Mental Health Book Fair to commemorate World Mental Health Week at DANA premises on 10th and 11th October 2015. On this occasion books published by NGOs

working in the field of psychology were displayed and the following NGOs participated: Manab Sangbed, Mon, Pavlov Institute, GirindraSekhar Institute and DANA.
(d) On this occasion following awareness programmes were organized at DANA premises:
10th October-Topic: “Mental health care with dignity” speakers were Dr. Jyotirmoy Samajdar, Dr. P.S.Nandi, Mr. Gopal Sethiyar and Mr. Mohit Ranadip. The moderator was Dr. Gautam Bandopadhyay.
11th October-Topic: “Mental health in geriatric age group” speakers were Dr. Gautam Bandopadhyay, Dr. Indrajit Sengupta, and Mr. Tarun Dutta.
11th October-Topic: “Parenting problems and expectations” speakers were Dr. Satyajit Ash, Dr. Amit Chakraboryt, Dr. Aniruddha Deb. The sessions on 11th October were moderated by Mrs. Ratna Mitra.
e) DANA held an awareness programme in ‘Adoption’ at Paschimbanga Bangla Academy. The topic was “Dattak Santan – Nanan Katha” (The adopted child many questions). The speakers were Mrs Simantika Nag, Atmaja Organization, Dr Amit Chakraborty Psychologist, Dr Gautam Bandopadhyay Psychiatrist, and Mr Supriyo Sarkar Government Officer in charge of Adoption Procedure. The programme was moderated by Mrs Ratna Mitra and was followed by enriching interactive session where parents of an adopted children and grown up adopted children participated.
(f) DANA participated actively in the Kolkata Book Fair 2016. DANA’s Publications were made available at the Stalls of Shabdohorin.
(g) On 29th August and 27th September, 2015 interactive sessions were held at DANA premises on current psychological issues.
(h) DANA held a programme in collaboration with PARAMPARA at Jibanananda Sabhaghar titled “Emotional Well being”. The speakers were Dr. Amit Chakraborty, Dr. Goutam Bandopadhyay and Mrs. Ratna Mitra.
i On 14th February Dana organized a programme on “Bangla Bhasay Monobigyan Charcha” at DANA premises ; the session was mainly interactive and experts discussed on literature and studies in Bengali about psychological issues.

C – Cultural Activities
(a) On 8th May, 2015 DANA organized Rabindra Jayanti at its premises. Members and guests actively participated in the programme.
(b) On 25th October, 2015` Bijoya Sammilani was hosted by Dr. Amit Chakraborty in his residence

D – Website
The Website of DANA e.g. www.kolkatadana.org is functioning successfully.
E – Acknowledgement
A deep sense of gratitude is expressed to AC Behara and Co., Chartered Accountant Firm for auditing the Accounts of DANA like previous years at a nominal fee.
We would also like to express our gratitude to all the Guest Lectures viz Mr. Arijit Chakraborty, Mrs. Leena Bardhan, , Dr. Nilanjana Pal and Ms. Fahmida Manju Majid for delivering lectures to the students of the Counselling Course.
Last, but not the least, it is the whole hearted co-operation from all categories of Members and Office colleagues viz Ms. Puja Dutta, Mr. Subhas Maitra, Mr.Shyamal Chatterjee and Mr. Animesh Patra, that has helped DANA to become successful in its endeavors.

(Dr. Sayandip Ghosh)
Secretary

Dr Fahmida Manju Majid, Eminent Rehabilitaion Psychologist of Bangladesh and based In London delivered a lecture on Counselling Disadvantaged Children and terminally ill Children under Palliative Care in the ongoing PG Diploma Course on Counselling at DANA on 19th June 2016.

4th Annual Conference on Art Therapy was organized by DANA on 10th April, 2016. The Day-long programme was held at The Hotel Golden Park, Kolkata. Swami Tattwatitananda of the R>K>Mission Institute of Culture inaugurated the Conference. In his Key-note Address Dr Chittaranjan Andrate of NIMHANS, Bengaluru spoke on ‘Art, Creativity & Brain’. In the pre-lunch and the post-lunch sessions papers were presented by Dr Debasis Bhattacharya, Dr Sayandip Ghosh, Prof S. Nundy Majumder and Ms Trina Lahiri on topics entitled ‘An Overview of Art Therapy’, ‘Art Therapy as an Adjunct Treatment for Adult Psychiatric Patients’, ‘Interpretation of Visual Language – Looking through the Eyes of Children’, and ‘Art Therapy in Terminal Illness’respectively. The programme ended with a panel discussion having Mr Hiran Mitra, Dr Gautam Saha and Dr Gautam Bandyopadhyay and Dr Amit Chakraborty as moderator. Important personalities, both from the field of Art & Mental Health attended the conference. They were Mr Swapnesh Choudhury, Dr Partha Pratim Roy, Dr S.B. Sinha, Prof O.P. Singh, Mr Kalyan Chakraborty, Dr Arnab Banerjee, Mr Samindra Majumder, Dr Hena Barat Roy, Dr Tultul Ghosh, Mr Harit Basu, Ms Bandana Mukherjee, Ms Subhra Banerjee Pal, Ms Sutapa Chakraborty & Ms Rita Roy. The programme was anchored by Dr Sheila Banerjee and the Vote of Thanks was given by Ms Pallabi Mukhopadhyay on behalf of DANA.
INTUS offered financial support for organizing the conference.

On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day, DANA organized a special Book Fair showcasing the books & magazines published by various Mental Health Organizations and Interactive Sessions with the experts on the following issues:
1) Dignity in Mental Health Care
2) Mental Health Problems of Old Age &
3) Parenting and other Child Related Issues.
The following Resource Persons participated in sessions:
Dr Amal Kumar Mallick, Dr Satyajit Ash, Dr Amit Chakraborty, Dr Aniruddha Deb, Dr Jyotirmoy Sengupta, Dr Gautam Bandyopadhyay, Dr Indrajit Sengupta, Mohit Ranadip, Tarun Dutta & Gopal Sethiar. Ratna Mitra & Gautam Bandyopadhyay moderated the sessions. More than 40 persons attended the sessions on both the days and interacted with the speakers.

Psychotherapy beyond talking-29.10=Dr.Sayandeep

VISUAL COMMUNICATION

SCOPE OF ART-THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS

The 3rd annual seminar on Art Therapy was held at Hotel Golden Park on 2nd November 2014. The session started with an introductory talk by Dr.Amal Kumar Mullick followed by a short talk by Dr.Amit Chakraborty on the work being done at DANA The first presentation was on the cases and picture analysis of 2 patients from Paripurnata halfway home titled. The next was a presentation by Dr. Sayandip Ghosh, Mr.Hareet Basu and Mrs. Subhra Banerjee Pal on the case study of 4 patients at DANA titled Psychotherapy beyond talking. There were 2 sessions, one by Ms.Trina Lahiri on working with cancer patients through Art Therapy and one session by Ms. Fahmida Manju Majid on Art Therapy through story telling. The post lunch session was an interactive session where the discussion was on treatment through non-drug therapy. Dr.Tultul Ghosh talked on psychoanalysis, Dr.Pritha Mukherjee discussed cognitive behavior therapy and Professor Amita Dutta talked on Dance therapy. Dr. Amit Chakraborty was the moderator. The discussion was followed by an interactive session and a vote of thanks.

A day-long seminar-cum-workshop on “Art for Healing” was organized on 28th February at the reception hall of DANA, JodhpurPark, Kolkata, India. Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya was the key anchor who also spoke on the ongoing project on Art-Therapy at DANA. He was supported by Harit Basu(artist) and Subhra Banerjee Pal (psychologist) who have actually been handling the project. They cited specific cases of adult patients who are under psychiatric intervention and have attended 6 or more sessions of Art-Therapy. Amongst other speakers, Trina Lahiri shared her experience of working with juvenile cancer patients from rural Bengal who were exposed to cartoons and humour for fighting pain and low mood. Minakshi Chaudhuri from Centre for Care of Tortured Victims (CCTV) mentioned about a Treatment & Rehabilitation Programme at a Shelter Home for Girls in September 2010 organized by CORE / Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for  Trauma & Torture, based atImphal, Manipur.

Arayee Day presented a short paper by Vrishali Purandare who narrated her experience of working with art at the de-addiction centre in Central India. Blaise Joseph spoke on a recent

6-day Art-Workshop organized for 25 inmates of Tihar Jail. He showed the various art work produced at the workshop with the help of newspaper cuttings. Rajsekhar Aich presented his recent study of mental health and motive between painters and non-painters.

The post lunch session focused on the interaction on the need for creating a platform for psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, visual artists and social workers who are interested to employ visual art for healing patients suffering from both physical and mental disorders.

Dr Amit Chakraborty

DANA organized a Mental Health Camp for the villagers of Kanjiakhali and Gouripur of Uluberia subdivision, Howrah District. The camp was attended by Dr Gautam Bandyopadhyay, Dr Sayandip Ghosh, Dr Anirban Mukherjee, and Dr Krishna Bandyopadhyay. Shyamal Chatterjee, Physiotherapist was also present.

DANA organised a special lecture by Ms Mousumi Singh from Australia on

“Investigation into the Relationship between Mindfulness and Problem-solving Training in Adults with Major Mental Illness”. 

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