SAMHI ~ Sexuality and Mental Health Institute

The Sexuality and Mental Health Institute (SAMHI) was conceptualized as an extension of Anjali’s work on sexuality and mental health. The aim was to reach out to students, young mental health professionals, medical professionals, lawyers and people working within NGOs, CBOs, donor agencies, etc. to learn and understand more about issues of sexuality and mental health so that programs designed and methods of intervention can be more holistic. The organization aims to encourage thought, study, enquiry and action, by providing a space for discussion, cultivation of ideas, breaking down of notions of stigma- with the penultimate aim of promoting inclusion of sexuality in mainstream mental healthcare services.

Anjali has completed three years of SAMHI in 2018, 2019 and 2023.

January 06 - 11, 2025

Participants are expected to arrive by 5th January 2025 and stay for the entire duration of the course.

Ibiza The Fern Resort & Spa

The Venue is disability friendly and fully accessible.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be on a single sharing basis.

Application open from 1st October 2024 to 25th October 2024.

Selected candidates will be intimated by email by November 2024.

The Institute aims to

  • Facilitate the understanding of the nuances of psychosocial disability and sexuality
  • Create linkages with global work and programs that impact mental health
  • Examine existing laws – both national and international – that impact the work on mental health and sexuality
  • Discuss work that is already existing in the field and enable participants to connect their work with issues of mental health and sexuality
  • Create a dynamic point of enquiry, study and action on mental health and sexuality
  • Generate new ideas and public debates on mental health and sexuality
                       

Pedagogy

The Institute will use a mixture of lecture, discussion, group work, films, readings and case studies.

Core Faculty

                                   
  • Chayanika Shah is an independent researcher, scholar and queer feminist activist from Mumbai who works in the areas of Feminist Studies of Science, Gender and Sexuality, Communalism, and Politics of Population Control.
  • KP/Ketki Ranade is faculty at the Center for Health and Mental Health, Tata Institute for Social Sciences, Mumbai. KP's areas of teaching, research and writing include queer-trans affirmative mental health, mental health advocacy, law and policy.
  •                                                                
  • Ratnaboli Ray is a trained psychologist, an Ashoka fellow and an activist. She is a Member of Task Force on Standard Treatment Guideline (GoI) and the Founder, Director of Anjali. Ratnaboli Ray was awarded the Alison Des Forges Human Rights Defender Award, from The Human Rights Watch.

Participants

We would encourage students and enthusiasts from all backgrounds to be a part of the institute.

  • Students interested and committed on working with issues of mental health, rights and sexuality
  • Any person working in the social sector on gender issues/ women’s rights/disability/sexuality/mental health/ development and/or youth activism
  • Able to demonstrate how you will use what you learn at the Institute in your work and how you will continue to participate in follow-up activities
  • Proficient in English language, as the Institute is conducted in English and all the training and reference materials used will be in English
  • Any person studying or working in the medical or legal sector with an interest in mental health, gender and sexuality.