Due to the COVID-19 crisis, social workers from Prerana have shifted their casework interventions from in-person follow-ups to telephonic follow-ups. The telephonic follow-ups focus on checking on the emotional and physical well-being of the child and their families.

During one such follow up with a child, Tara (name changed), who has been restored to her family in January, the social worker got to know that the family was struggling to procure her mother’s psychiatric medications. Tara’s mother has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Before the COVID-19 imposed lockdown, her psychiatrist had recommended institutionalization as the risk of self-harm was extremely high. However, due to the lockdown, the process of institutionalization couldn’t materialize. In April, Tara’s mother was left with only enough medication supply to last a few weeks and the family had little resources to procure more. Tara’s father requested the social worker to help them obtain the medication as institutionalization was not possible until the lockdown was lifted. While the social worker was trying to identify organizations that could help with the procurement of medicines, the mother’s condition was worsening due to a sudden break in the treatment. Tara’s father shared with the social worker that he was afraid of leaving the children alone with her as there was a risk of her turning violent and hurting either the children or herself.

The social worker contacted local pharmacists and relief organizations, and the prescription was shared with them. While the local pharmacists informed that their stock of psychiatric drugs was over, the relief organizations informed that their primary focus was on providing food supplies rather than medication. The social worker suggested to the father to contact the concerned doctor and enquire if they could visit the hospital. However, as the hospital was attending only to patients infected by COVID-19, this too couldn’t materialize.

After almost three weeks of exploring options, an organization was contacted, who could provide monetary assistance to the family for the procurement of medication. However, the medicines were still out of stock at the local pharmacies. It was then that during the Sentinel team’s internal Case Management Meeting where one of the team members shared about a pharmacist who had helped with the procurement of psychiatric medication for the residents at Prerana’s shelter facility for girls. The pharmacist was contacted, and he was able to provide at least a part of the prescribed medicines. 

The case was important in helping the team realize they need to identify organizations that could provide resources other than food supplies. While everyone was providing food supplies, there was a family in distress where their need was medication. This distress was directly impacting the well-being of the children. While the children were scared of their mother, the father found himself helpless to the extent that he had to keep his children away from their mother, and he had to stay outside the house. On the other hand, none of the health care facilities were of much help to the family. While providing for food supplies in such unprecedented times is essential, the need for medications and the suffering of those with mental health conditions cannot and must not be neglected.