Picture this: you’re on a plane, and the flight attendant reminds you to secure your oxygen mask before assisting others. Why? Because you can’t help anyone if you’re struggling to breathe yourself. Similarly, when life’s stressors impede a parent’s ability to pay attention to their child’s physical and emotional needs, it can result in emotional, cognitive and/ or social difficulties that can follow a child into adulthood. For parents of disabled children, in particular, mental wellbeing isn’t a nice-to-have – it’s a necessity because they tend to experience more stress, depression, and physical exhaustion compared to the general population.
As a family-centered organization, we’re committed to nurturing the mental health of our children’s parents. Our support groups for mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents are sanctuaries of empathy, friendship and practical guidance, where members share experiences, seek advice, learn coping strategies, and unwind with likeminded others.
Our mothers’ support groups provide a safe space for moms to celebrate their worth outside of caregiving. Savita Purohit, mother of Shivansh, sums it up perfectly, saying, “As mothers of children with special needs, we rarely get time to ourselves, so these meetups are refreshing and rejuvenating”. Our recent Spring Love Festival for the mother’s support group was a hit with 30 moms coming together to spread love and joy.
Manish Thakur, a member of one of our fathers’ support groups, finds the camaraderie and shared experiences very encouraging. “Alone we can do little, together we can do so much,” he quotes. Anup Chandr, father of Prasoon, says, “The support group helps me connect with other fathers of disabled children and gives me ideas for things I can do to help my son”.
Grandparents can play an invaluable role as caregivers, especially in joint families. Our grandparents support groups are a chance for daada-daadi-naana-naanis to meet, socialize and play an active role in their disabled grandchildren’s development.
Our Siblings Club is a certified training program designed to empower siblings to be informed, caring, and joyful supporters of their disabled siblings. Through fun activities and meaningful discussions, we’re nurturing the bond between siblings and preparing them for a lifetime of love and support for each other.
At Latika, we understand that the well-being of caregivers is essential not only for their own sake but also for the holistic development and happiness of their children. Through our support groups and programs, we aim to create a community where parents feel supported, understood, and empowered to navigate the challenges of caregiving with resilience and grace.
