State of Care
State of care is an immersive gaming tool developed by Fields of View and the Centre of Mental Health Law and Policy (CMHLP) to reflect and highlight the various challenges vulnerable groups face to access mental healthcare in their journey through the public system.
Vulnerable populations bear a disproportionate and higher burden of mental health problems. When they encounter mental healthcare services provided by the State and other institutions, there are various gaps in both the nature and quality of care. As mental healthcare is seen squarely under the purview of the Health department, the interlinkages with other departments become a challenge; and the various departments serving the needs of vulnerable groups do not view mental healthcare as a critical aspect of their work.
The immersive gaming tool will centre the quality of care experienced by vulnerable groups with mental health concerns, and their perspective and view of the care. The tool will focus on the responsibility of the government, institutions, and various organisations to provide rights- and community-based mental healthcare.
The main target audience for the tool are policymakers and decision makers in mental health, education, women and child services, social justice, law enforcement and others.
The design and objectives of the game were initially conceptualized at a problem formulation workshop conducted in Pune between FoV and CMHLP. Both organizations later decided the objectives and design of the tool, based on the targeted audience. Subsequently, the team mapped the journey of different vulnerable groups as they accessed care. The team then decided to focus on two vulnerable groups primarily:
(1)Persons who have attempted suicide or self-harm and are seeking care
(2) Persons who are transitioning from mental health institutions to community-based care
The tool focuses on the challenges faced by the vulnerable groups during their journey to receive long term care and support. Through the game the participants experience the institutional challenges and gaps along with the emotional challenges faced by the vulnerable populations in interacting with the on-ground officials involved in the mental health care system.