Mumbai: Apex Parsi body launches historic mental health fund

Bombay Parsi Punchayet members (from top left to bottom right) Ervad Xerxes, Vispi Dastur, Adil Malia, Hoshang Jal, Viraf Mehta, Anahita Desai, Armaity Tirandaz, and Maharukh Kobad Noble. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) - the apex administrative body for the city's Parsi Zoroastrian community - has announced the creation of a dedicated mental health corpus to support community members battling psychiatric illness.

The move marks a significant shift in how institutional welfare is being approached within the community. The corpus aims to offer long-term financial and therapeutic support to individuals dealing with conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorders, and more.

The fund will cover hospitalisation, medication, caregiver support, rehabilitation services, and vocational reintegration for affected individuals - many of whom are unable to access or afford sustained psychiatric care.

"Mental health issues are often hidden - not because they don't exist, but because families are afraid to speak," said Armaity Tirandaz, BPP trustee and board member leading the welfare initiative. "This fund is our way of acknowledging that suffering exists in silence, and that silence needs to be broken - with support, not shame."

Armaity Tirandaz, BPP trustee and board member leading the welfare initiative

The move is especially notable in the context of India's broader mental health landscape, where stigma, underdiagnosis, and inadequate infrastructure often delay treatment and intervention.

The initiative was proposed after repeated cases came to the board's attention, particularly involving members of the community who, after years of untreated illness, required intensive institutional care and financial aid. For many families, the cumulative cost of medication, therapy, residential care, and income loss became overwhelming.

"What makes this effort unique is that it's not just reactive, it's preventive and structural," said Tirandaz. "We're building a safety net that addresses mental health as a community priority, not just a private struggle."

Disbursement of funds will be based on professional assessments and reports from mental health practitioners. BPP has assured that each case will be handled with discretion, medical oversight, and transparency, with all documentation vetted before any aid is given.

Sustained support essential

Speaking to mid-day, Dr Rohann Bokdawala (MD Psychiatry), consultant at GTB Hospital in Sewri and Masina Hospital in Byculla, said:

"There's a lack of awareness and persistent myths about psychiatric care. Many still equate treatment with ‘shock therapy' or sedation. People fear that once someone's illness is discovered, it affects job prospects and marriage."

He added, "The cost of long-term psychiatric care is staggering, up to R2 lakh a month at licensed centres. Patients often need six to 18 months of treatment, making sustained financial support not just helpful, but essential."

Dr Bokdawala noted that tight-knit Parsi housing colonies create a fear of judgment and gossip, making families reluctant to seek help. "A discreet and well-managed corpus can be life-changing," he said.

We're listening and we care

BPP Chairman Viraf D Mehta, who has backed the initiative, called it a "long-overdue step." "Mental health has always been hard to talk about. People don't know what to say, so they say nothing. This fund is a small way of showing that we're listening, and that we care," he said. "Every community has unique needs, and this is one we've ignored for too long."

The corpus is now open for donations from individuals and charitable trusts. All contributions will be ring-fenced and used solely for the mental healthcare of Parsi Irani Zoroastrians in need. Donors can reach out to BPP CEO Aspi Sarkari at [bppceoas@gmail.com].

The fund will also support caregiver training, counselling, and rehabilitation programs, particularly for young adults and senior citizens, two groups often left unsupported. "If this fund helps even one person feel less abandoned, or one family breathe a little easier, then we've done something worthwhile," said Tirandaz.

Community reactions

Kersi Minocher Sanjana, 73, Resident of Godrej Baug
‘It's good to see the BPP finally addressing something many of us have witnessed quietly for years. Every colony has families who've struggled in silence. This may not solve everything, but it's a much-needed start.'

Percy Harver, 69, Resident of Princess Street
‘The real test will be how sensitively and transparently this fund is handled. If done right, it could truly change lives.'