Fountain House Lahore Pakistan

Fountain House History (Institute for Mental Health)
Introduction:
Fountain House has the unique distinction of being the only institute of its kind in south Asia that offers treatment and rehabilitation services to those who suffer in silence from various kinds of mental ailments, in addition to educational facilities for family physicians from all over the country. Fountain house, also called as ‘Home of happiness’ the brain child of late Prof. Muhammad Rashid Chaudhry, a legend in psychiatry, started functioning in 1971; however, it was late Professor Haroon Rasheed Chaudhry, his illustrious son, who not only kept the flame burning but gave the fountain house such a stature that it is now known all over the world for its extraordinary rehabilitation services to thousands of mentally ill. It is home to mentally challenged people. With a motto, ‘dignity in service’, primarily it is a psychological rehabilitation center for the schizophrenics the ones who lose a touch with reality and with inherent severe symptoms of schizophrenia. Fountain House was started in 1971 under the governance of Lahore Mental Health Association (L.M.H.A), an N.G.O registered with Directorate General of Social Welfare Government of West Pakistan under the Voluntary Services Welfare Agencies Registration & Control Ordinance 1961.
Present leadership of Fountain House:
Mr. Ghias-ud-Din (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) - Member Steering Committee.
Dr. Amjad Squib (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) - Chairman Steering Committee.
Dr. Umair Rashid - Member Steering Committee.
Dr. Syed Imran Murtaza
Project Details:
Fountain house is further compartmentalized into various areas of concerns and ancillary centers or projects which are as follows:

1. Institute for Disadvantaged Children, Jain Mandir, Lahore
   (I.D.C - For Children)
   Its main objective is to educate and provide vocational as well as technical education to the MR children whose ages are 15 and above. All other institutions working for MRs in Pakistan, the upper age limit to cater is 15 years.
2. Khawajasira Rehabilitation Project
   (KS.R.P- For Eunuchs)
   This is to provide health services for neglected section of society. Around 275 eunuchs are involved in this project by disciplining them and called them once a week for two hours to give sessions on cleanliness. Screening session of hepatitis and HIV are also held. They are also given stipend of Rs. 1200 per session.
3. Haroon Rashid Vocational Rehabilitation Center (H.R.V.R.C)
   This is for developing vocational skills in the recuperating member, it is here note-worthy that fountain house doesn’t name its patients as “patients” rather they are called members to generate the sense that they are still part of our society.
4. Prof. Rashid Chaudhry Drug Rehabilitation Center (P.R.C.D.R.C)
   This is for drug addicts. There is schooling and library facilities for such members. They are engaged in creative and productive facilities i.e. games, handicraft making, painting etc.in fountain house they focus on natural aesthetic elements as well.
5. Fountain House Farm, Therapeutic Community Farooqabad (F.H.F)
   This is for better recovery of patients; through agro based activities for those who have agriculture or rural background by giving them occupational therapy; as well as, through providing them aesthetically appeasing and serene place.
   Fountain House Farm (Farooqabad, District Sheikhupura) is another land mark in the history of Fountain House. The agricultural farm was started in November 1982 when possession of 25 Acres of land was allotted to LMHA on permanent lease. At present 37 members are residing at the Farm while bedding capacity is around 45.Members, there, are engaged in different activities such as;
   • Growing Vegetables,
   • Crops,
   • Gardening,
   • Fish & Poultry Farming,
   • Dairy & Cattle Farm,
   • Teddy Goat Farm
   • Green Tunnel Farming
   (A recently established section in the Agro therapy Unit which is producing off season vegetables successfully)
   In addition to Art & Craft training classes there Psychotherapy& Agricultural therapy go side by side at the Farm. Members are provided with recreational facilities as well by arranging Barbeque for them. Sports room is also available for them where they play table tennis and carom board. State of the art treatment services are provided to the members by the Full Time Physician, visiting psychiatrists and paramedical staff. Rehabilitation centre for drug addicts in collaboration with Richmond fellowship of society of Pakistan is established there.
   6: Fountain House Sargodha
   All Projects’ Wards/Blocks Details
   PROJECT NAME & LOCATION WARDS / BLOCKS / FACILITY STATUS / REQUIREMENTS BEDDING CAPACITY / BENEFICRIES Total
   Fountain House LAHORE
   (Male Wings) Saddique Block General Block 110 203
   Ahmad Block Semi Private Block 24
   Hamza Block Semi Private Block 18
   Rasheed Block Semi Private Block 18
   Begum Riffat Ghais ud Den Block (B.R.G) Private Block 16
   Royal Kingston Rehabilitation Center (R.K.R.C) Private Block 17
   Fountain House
   LAHORE
   (Female Wings) General Block General Block 52 102
   Amna Block Semi Private Block 32
   Zakia Block Private Block 15
   Emergency Room -- 03

Finances:
According to the management of fountain house, yearly expenditure of the organization, on average, is Rs. 8 million; out of which approximately 3.5 million rupees are given by the provincial government as grant. Monthly expenditures are Rs. 12 lac while per patient expenditure is Rs. 26,000. Financial needs are fulfilled by philanthropist contributions and annual fund raising dinner where ticket is sold for Rs. 10,000 per person.
Since its inception, Fountain House has been able to rehabilitate near 8000 members (patients) with psychiatric illnesses back in the community, whereas as in last year the number of rehabilitated members (patients) is increased from 450 to 820 members (patients) per annum. Presently, Fountain House Indoor facility caters to the rehabilitations needs of 400 members (patients) including 100 females, 230 Males at Fountain House Lahore and 70 members (patients) at Fountain House Farm Farooqabad.
The Out Patient Department with Pharmacy along with the many Volunteer Consultants who have joined Fountain House including Skin Specialist (Dermatologist), General Physician & Gynecologist etc is successfully providing psychiatric and psychological consultation facility to particularly poverty stricken persons suffering from Mental Disorders not only from Lahore and Suburban areas but also to the members (patients) from Outstations. This year, Fountain House OPD has provided consultation to almost 11000 patients out of which about 3000 were given free medicine from zakat and donations.
Services and Programs for the In-Patients (Members)

• Boarding and Lodging (300 including 200 male & 100 female members)
• Treatment facilities
• Prevocational Training
• Supported Psychotherapy
• Spiritual Therapy
• Group / individual therapy
• Cognitive Behavior therapy
• Vocational therapy
• Music therapy
• Art & Drama Therapy
• Gymnasium therapy
• Sports
• Recreational programs
• Library (including books on mental health and others)
• Prof. Rashid Chaudhry memorial auditorium
• Job placement
Blocks of Fountain House
• Saddique Block
• Rasheed Block
• Begum Riffat Ghais Din Block
• Royal Kingston Rehab Centre
• Ahmad Asrar Block
• Hamza Block
• N.N. Wig Occupational Therapy Unit
• Amna Block (Female wing)
• Zakia Block (Female wing)
• Institute for Disadvantaged (Gifted) Children
Daily Activities at Fountain House
• Fajr Prayer and Dars e Quran
• Morning Assembly
• Working Units (vocational therapy)
• Art & Psycho Drama therapy session
• Psychotherapy Sessions
• Family Counseling
• Group Therapies
• Gymnasium & evening sports
• Supportive Employment Program (SEP)
• Transitional Employment Program (TEP)
Other Facilities

• Teaching Units
• Hamza, Rashid, Amina & Riffat Ghais-ud-Din Block
• Case Conferences
• Ongoing Pharmacological Research
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy
• Woodwork Unit
• Handicrafts
• Clay Unit
• Embroidery Unit
• Ceramics Unit
• Sewing & Knitting Unit
• OutpatientUnit(OPD)
(From Monday to Saturday by Visiting Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Gynecologists, Skin Specialist and Eye Specialists)
• 24 Hours Psychiatric Emergency
• Pharmacy
Comparison with other organizations of this kind:
Though almost in every private and public hospital there happens to be a facility/ward for mental health care and there is a hospital for mentally retarded patients; but, the concept of rehabilitation is exclusive and unique to this very organization. Fountain house is peerless when it comes to its philosophy and commitment to the cause. It doesn’t stand as a mental asylum for the delusional schizophrenics rather it is like a home to them and embraces the eccentric and bizarre. Even in government run Pakistan Institute of Mental Health there is no such concept of vocational training and occupational therapy. We can also see disparity in infrastructure and staff as there are 750 beds and around 74 medical officers while in Fountain House there are only 400 beds and 4 medical officers. But still Fountain House is making efforts to make its members productive part of the society after treatment and recuperation