Stepping towards awareness
Making a stop in Deniyaya
With a 44 day journey mapping the island nation complete, lives touched and old stigmas broken Nivendra Uduman looks back at his inspirational trek on foot through “Footsteps to Freedom.”
Nivendra, a 28 year old counselling psychologist undertook a 44 day walk starting in August and coming to an ending in Septemberthis year to raise awareness on mental health. Being an old Royalist and obtaining his qualifications at the Christ University in Bangalore, Nivendra realized the severity and impact mental health and its improper treatment had in Sri Lanka. In his opinion the cultural norms of Sri Lankans make people afraid to come forward with issues and causing those to suffer in silence and ultimately become harmful to others and themselves.
Following the Aranayaka floods that sparked a nationwide welfare campaign, Nivendra met Major Ruwan Ranatunga during flood rescue work and was inspired by Ranatunga’s efforts to raise funds for charities that supported cancer patients.
After hearing this story and catching a glimpse of the unfortunate state of mental healthcare in Sri Lanka, Nivendra decided to walk the length of the country (from Dondra to Point Pedro) raising awareness and sharing his expertise wherever possible. “There’s only so much you can do seated in an office. You need to go out and meet people to understand the effects of this epidemic,” he said.
Through the support of his current place of work – ‘Samutthana,’ the Sri Lanka Army, and well wishers he organized his journey to help change the perspective of people. He began his journey in Jaffna alongside his friend and colleague Hasini Gunasekara. Unfortunately they had to part ways from Puliyankulam. He journeyed around 20 km everyday, conducted clinics and workshops and helping whoever he could along the way. He recalls the climb to the hill country bring particularly difficult and grueling as heavy rain hampered his travels.
When he began his journey he wanted to help whoever he could. “If you can save one life you’ve done your bit,” he said as he recalled his initial intentions behind the walk. However, the impact it had on him and his team had truly made a difference. He journeyed walking into police stations and councelling convicts and people seeking help from abuse. He also had workshops for victims of abuse and spontaneously assisted wherever he was required. Many of his workshops were unplanned as after talking to him people privately approached him with their problems.
Above and below - Nivendra (Counselling psychologist) and Hansini Gunasekara (psychologist) conducting an awareness programme on mental health for the Kappagoda village, as part of the ‘Footsteps to Freedom’ journey. Pix courtesy Facebook.com/NivendraUduman
Nivendra said that the most pressing issues Sri Lanka faced were domestic and alcohol abuse, and suicide. He stressed on the unfortunate situation of rural Sri Lanka as many authoritative bodies put a bandage over issues like domestic abuse underplaying things and assuming the affected parties will work things out. He was able to have hands on discussions with abuse victims and encouraged them to get help.
“Everyone is effected by mental health. Directly or indirectly,” he stated. Along his journey he had encountered children with abusive parents unable to turn to anyone for help. He stressed on the importance of education and awareness for mental health. It was apparent that people were afraid to come forward with their issues as many people were ashamed to admit they had a problem which he feels creates a large populace with suppressed pain.
‘Footsteps to Freedom’ was an enlightening project that changed the perspective of many people and touching every heart and mind the campaignencountered. “Just as you take medicine from a doctor you need help with your emotions as well,” he says hoping that through his project he helped people realize the importance of mental health.
Nivendra on his trek.