Ms. Oindrila Paul
Ms. Oindrila Paul has a M.Phil. degree in Clinical Psychology from Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences, India. Presently, she is working as a Clinical Psychologist at the Department of Psychiatry, KPC Medical College & Hospital in India. Ms. Paul had obtained her M.Sc. degree in Applied Psychology from University of Calcutta and has previously worked in the government sector as well. With her insatiable curiosity for understanding the human mind, Ms. Paul has shined bright throughout her academic journey. As the University topper in M.Phil., she has consistently displayed a holistic understanding of the subject, coupled with a genuine empathy for those in need. Ms. Paul is a keen researcher and is just about to embark on her PhD journey. Her innovative approaches to therapy have already caught the attention of fellow professionals. She is determined to push the boundaries of traditional psychology and seek novel ways to address mental health challenges. Ms. Paul is committed towards her goal of enhancing community mental health in developing countries. She is working relentlessly to promote inclusivity and diversity in therapeutic services at the grass root level, in order to provide affordable and accessible mental healthcare to the underserved and underprivileged population in India.
Development of Bibliotherapy and E-Counselling Intervention (BECI) module for parents of intellectually disabled children
Background: Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning across conceptual, social and practical domains. Parents of children with ID face significant psychological challenges. However, they prioritise their children's well-being over seeking therapy themselves. Moreover, individuals from rural areas or low socio-economic status struggle to access mental health services due to financial and time constraints. Hence, the researchers have developed the Bibliotherapy & E-Counselling Intervention (BECI) module through which psychotherapy may be provided remotely. The self-help bibliotherapy component included a guidebook having informational content, FAQs and techniques of stress management, acceptance and mindfulness. The E-Counselling component included videoconference sessions.
Methods: A cross sectional, tertiary care centre based study was conducted using pre-test post-test design. Through purposive sampling, 50 parents of intellectually disabled children were selected. Children were screened using Vineland Social Maturity Scale and Developmental Screening Test. Pilot studies were conducted to identify the knowledge gap and understand psychosocial issues among participants. BECI Module was developed, then administered over a 3 months period. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to delve deeper into the participants’ experiences and Thematic Analysis was used to identify major themes. General Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and WHO Quality of Life Scale were administered before and after the intervention. Paired Samples T Test was used to assess the difference.
Results: There was a significant difference in the levels of general health, perceived stress and quality of life (physical, social, psychological and environmental health domains) before and after delivering BECI. Thematic analysis indicated positive outcomes like enhanced awareness and improved emotional state.
Conclusion: BECI is an effective psychotherapeutic module to address mental health issues in parents of intellectually disabled children. Bibliotherapy is a versatile and economical treatment and paired with online counselling, it can be a very effective form of remote therapy.
Relevance to Conference Theme: Our work aligns perfectly with the theme of “Psychological Practices in the Digital Age”. Modern day treatment goes much beyond the traditional face to face talk-therapy. In this fast paced world, blending physical and online presence is the need of the hour. It facilitates us to reach out to grassroot levels and make mental health services available, affordable and accessible for all. Hence, our innovative intervention module which marries traditional and modern approaches for maximum effectiveness and applicability deserves a wider audience, so that the ideas can be adopted by professionals in their practice.