26/06/2026
Case Study: Kamla
Kamla a 32-year-old woman, has been living with severe, untreated mental health challenges and has never undergone a formal psychiatric assessment. She has experienced years of extreme trauma, including repeated physical, emotional, and sexual violence.
Kamla has three children. Her two sons, aged 12 and 10, were taken away by her husband several years ago, and she has not been allowed any contact with them since. Her four-year-old daughter currently lives with her, along with Kamla's elderly mother.
When the Sahara outreach team first met Kamla, she had just been assaulted by her husband, who had smashed a beer bottle over her head. Her husband, who has been living with another partner for several years, continues to visit Kamlas home, where he regularly subjects her to physical and verbal abuse.
Kamla disclosed that she has lost count of the number of times she has been gang r***d while living on the streets. Driven by emotional distress, jealousy, and alcohol dependence, she frequently disappears for several days at a time. During these periods, she remains highly vulnerable to exploitation, violence, and sexual assault while trying to earn money to support her alcohol dependence.
Through consistent outreach, counselling, and trust-building, the Sahara team has remained in regular contact with Kiran. She has now agreed to move into the Sahara Crisis Shelter with her young daughter, where she will first undergo a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and begin appropriate mental health treatment.
The immediate care plan is to stabilise Kamla through psychiatric care, psychosocial support, and treatment for alcohol dependence. This will include initiating Naltrexone to help manage alcohol cravings and support her recovery. As part of a longer-term rehabilitation plan, Sahara will also work towards securing admission for her daughter into a safe residential educational facility, ensuring the child has access to protection, education, and a sta
