About Manasu
The Journey of MANASU

“Life is a therapy at MANASU for wandering people suffering from mental health issues.”

A Unit of the Claretian Life Animation Project Trust (CLAP). During the visit of Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Maria Abella Balle CMF, the general Superior of the Claretian Congregation, to Chennai, he expressed concern to Rev. Fr. Vincent Anesthasiar CMF, the provincial superior of the Chennai province, about the suffering of people on the streets. In response, the provincial superior requested Fr. Sekar CMF to conduct a preliminary study in April and May 2010. Bro. Soosai Antony CMF joined him, and after visiting several NGOs and conducting street surveys, they presented a proposal to the provincial assembly on May 30, 2010, to assist people with mental health issues on the streets of Chennai.

Despite initial hesitance from the majority of the assembly members, Rev. Fr. Vincent Anesthasiar CMF insisted, stating, 'We respond to missions based on the signs of the times, not the majority.' Fr. Sekar CMF was then appointed to initiate the proposal in June 2010, and Bro. Soosai Antony CMF agreed to join the mission after completing his specialized studies. After a year, Fr. Sekar was transferred, and Fr. L. Antony CMF was appointed to start the mission with the same proposal in June 2011.
Following several months of study and planning, MANASU, a residence for destitute individuals with mental illness, was formally opened on December 2, 2011.

Following several months of study and planning, MANASU, a residence for destitute individuals with mental illness, was formally opened on December 2, 2011. The inauguration, led by Rev. Fr. Vincent Anesthasiar CMF, the provincial superior, took place in the presence of Mrs. Sarasvathi Jeyasanker, the panchayat president of Tirusulam. The event was held in a small existing building at the CLAP activity center, where activities and meetings for the physically challenged and HIV patients were also organized. The initial resident was rescued on January 5, 2012, under the guidance of Fr. L. Antony CMF, who served as the first director of MANASU.

Fr. Kulanthaisamy CMF served as the assistant director from 2013 to 2015. With the support of the province, local residents, and well-wishers, the director faced numerous challenges in establishing MANASU with limited facilities and resources. In 2014, MANASU obtained a license from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Tamil Nadu, to operate a psychiatric rehabilitation home for 12 individuals. After completing his studies in Social Work, specializing in medical and psychiatry, in 2015, Fr. Soosai Antony CMF was appointed as the Assistant Director of MANASU, following Fr. Kulanthaisamy CMF. The building initially had the capacity to accommodate 5 to 7 residents until 2015. In February 2015, a new building on the same campus was inaugurated.

A year later, in August 2016, the first floor was added based on the service's increasing demand. The building now has the capacity to accommodate 40 residents. Currently, 34 residents are in the process of recovery.

Fr. Soosai Antony CMF assumed the role of Director of MANASU in 2017, while Fr. Karun Sagar CMF joined as the Assistant Director in 2018. In 2019, MANASU received a license to accommodate 45 residents from the IMH, Tamil Nadu. MANASU's team comprises a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric social worker, nurse, and other staff. It is a recognized NGO for its humanitarian service in Chennai, collaborating closely with the Tamil Nadu State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) and local police. The Madras High Court has ordered donations to MANASU as part of a court settlement, underscoring its reputation and impact in the community.




On December 11, 2021, MANASU was registered with the Department for the Welfare of Differently Abled, adding to its existing IMH license. The registration was granted by the honorable Minister T.M. Anbarasan of the Tamil Nadu Government, in a ceremony attended by Chengalpattu Collector Thiru. A. R. Rahul Nadh IAS and other dignitaries.

MANASU reached a milestone on February 16, 2024, by signing its first MoU with the Department of Social Work at Madras Christian College, Tambaram. Dr. Wilson, the Principal of MCC, and Fr. Soosai Antony CMF, Director of MANASU, represented their organizations. This collaboration signifies MANASU's commitment to partnering with educational institutions.