My niece-in-law, Dr. Renu Weiss, is an accomplished medical professional who has been working with The Banyan in Chennai, India for many years. She has dedicated many hours to this organization that offers stellar care for the mentally ill and homeless in Chennai. The important work that the Banyan does can only be carried out by wonderful, loving people like my niece who truly care about the dignity of people and the care they should receive in the mental health arena. I am proud to be a Friend of the Banyan.
The Banyan is, I believe, the first of its kind, an all-female patient population mental health institution in South India. And it's not like any institution in the USA. I've visited twice, and am amazed at the great work they do--they actually teach skills, help the women who otherwise would be on the street or worse, and do this with a dedicated and quite minimal staff.
I highly recommend them, based on my years as an Internist, and previous work in mental health.
The Banyan is one of the most impressive non-profits I have ever known. Its stellar mission and totally dedicated staff can't be topped. I follow Banyan stories weekly on a private blog run by one of its medical practitioners and thus get regular glimpses into the lives of the people they serve so well.