Case Story: When Care Goes Beyond the Clinic

When KeSVF's nurse Vasant Vasave first met Pankaj ( Name changed) and his family in Bedakund village, Akkalkuwa, they were living with constant uncertainty.

A young tribal man experiencing mental health challenges, Pankaj would often leave home without informing anyone, sometimes disappearing for hours or even days. His parents lived with a persistent fear: where had he gone, and would he return safely?

Recognising the distress faced by both Pankaj and his caregivers, KeSVF began regular home visits. Vasant provided follow-up support, monitored changes in his condition, helped the family navigate treatment, and became an important bridge between the family and healthcare providers.

KeSVF later facilitated consultations with Dr. Dinesh Valvi, Psychiatrist, ensuring that Pankaj could access specialist mental health care despite the challenges of distance, poverty, and limited services in tribal areas.

Over time, small but meaningful changes emerged. Pankaj became calmer, began helping with household chores, grazed goats, fetched water, and was less likely to leave home without informing his family. For his parents, these changes brought a sense of relief that had been missing for years.

But KeSVF’scare did not stop with mental health support.

During follow-up visits, Pankaj reported frequent urination. Rather than seeing this as a separate issue, the KeSVF team worked to ensure that the concern was evaluated and is continuing to support follow-up for further assessment. This reflects a core principle of palliative care: people do not experience illnesses in isolation. Physical symptoms, emotional wellbeing, family concerns, and social circumstances are deeply connected.

Pankaj’s story reflects the approach that KeSVF hopes to bring to its upcoming mental health pilot in partnership with the Brain Health Clinic, Nandurbar. By viewing mental health through a palliative care lens, the focus extends beyond diagnosis and medication to include caregiver support, continuity of care, home-based follow-up, and attention to the wider needs of individuals and families.