India is increasingly changing as a society facingsocial and moral issues that are complex, sudden and require professional interventions. For example child sexual abuse and relationship violence on one hand to human trafficking, terrorism and ethnic violence on another.

There is little research and documentation leaving institutional responses in a vacuum while leaving whole communities terrorized and disempowered. While in Delhi a victim of child sexual abuse still faces an insensitive system leading to secondary trauma, a child in another city or village of India suffers from post traumatic stress disorder in response to state oppression or torture.

We at Swanchetan have felt time and again that as psychologists, mental health workers it is our primary duty to respond to this injustice in society and develop systems and alternatives that lead to the empowerment of the individual and the community. A crisis intervention center that addresses the needs of the victim without delay is needed because it addresses the fundamental rights and dignity in all human beings to receive timely support and care.

It has been institutionalized in several countries as their societies have grown and matured and placed the human rights of their citizens as a fundamental need. It is needed in every city of India. Only then can we say that we truly care.

Swanchetan’s crisis intervention unit came into existence eight years ago in response to an acute need for providing trauma counseling to survivors in the aftermath of a heinous crime, ethnic violence and disaster that left many traumatized and scarred emotionally for life.

Swanchetan’s crisis intervention unit works towards alleviating the suffering of the individual whether being a victim of rape, relationship violence or the community facing violence, torture and ethnic conflicts in different parts of our country.

Swanchetan has helped Delhi Police deal with number of crisis situations such as mentally ill persons, malingering, suicidal persons, hostage negotiations, psychopaths and pedophiles on the prowl and issues related to anti social behaviors and violent escalations by sub groups.

Swanchetan receives nearly 40-45 cases every month requiring crisis intervention like in the cases listed above through police helplines, through our website or hearing about us through our awareness campaigns.