World Women’s Day Dilani shows mentally challenged ladies the way

Dilani De Silva awaits October 8 with the same eagerness with which she looks forward to celebrate her birthday. This is because October 8 has given her life so much value in terms of being the woman she wished to be. This day is celebrated as World Women’s Day and it is important to women like Dilani who was a mental patient in the past.   

At present there is little trace of her dark past and people see her as a bundle of joy willing to help anyone who is down.   

At present she works as a volunteer therapist at the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) in Angoda. She is also the President of the Consumer Forum of NIMH (Reg number -Kollonnawa/DS/VO/2018/31), a post she has served in since 2015 July.   

As usual their annual programme for World Women’s Day will be held at Angoda on March 7 because everybody involved with the NIMH is available today (Thursday).   

She married very young- at the age of 17- and stepped into a depressing life. Dilani went through hard times in her marriage and she was forced to migrate abroad in search of employment. There she had her first mental breakdown.   

She endured all hardships while being rehabilitated, but like the old saying ‘there is a silver lining after every dark cloud’ she found the love and care of a committed staff at this institute.   

She was pulled out the woods through medication and loving care. She was supervised by experts and soon she showed a penchant to make soft toys; a skill which even today fetches her a decent income.   

“Patients are rehabilitated in groups using art and music as therapy. I make a plea to the society not to look upon mental patients as those who have taken a dip in life. When commemorating Women’s Day I say that the women in Sri Lanka should have some value; given that this country is called the pearl of the Indian Ocean” she told the Daily Mirror.   

She has been on medication for the past 17 years and said that she is confident that she’ll not have a fall in life again. “As a woman I’m creative and love the aesthetic side of things, but my fall taught me to bring out the toughness in a woman and also be strong”

She has been on medication for the past 17 years and said that she is confident that she’ll not have a fall in life again. “As a woman I’m creative and love the aesthetic side of things, but my fall taught me to bring out the toughness in a woman and also be strong” she said.   

She took this opportunity to thank Dr. Neil Fernando, Dr. Firdaus Metha, Dr. Kapila Wickremenayake, Dr. Jayan Mendia and NIMH staffers Asoka and Pradeep Fernando for the help extended towards her to bounce back to life.   

She is a devout Christian and a believer of God. “I was touched by the holy spirit, but there were living Gods like the doctors who were throwing their weight behind me in every stage of recovery,” she said.   

She has achieved many things on the road to recovery. One of the most important achievements is the shedding of the stigma that’s associated with such patients. Dilani does not fear to talk about her past and move in a society where there are opportunities for soft toys manufacturers like her. But she has a stronger message for females come World Women’s Day. “Anyone who falls down mentally can pick the pieces and start all over again,” Dilani told this writer as she cherished the last bit of contents in her cup of coffee and took an observant look at the busy street outside the coffee shop we met.   

As cars move at hectic speed in single file along the road adjoining the cafe, her thoughtful eyes probably indicate that she reminded herself that she too is back once again on the fast lane in life.