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National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

Coordinates: 12°56′22.4″N 77°35′55.7″E / 12.939556°N 77.598806°E / 12.939556; 77.598806
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National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
File:NIMHNS.JPG
TypePublic
Established
  • 1925 as Mental Hospital,[1]
  • 27 December 1974 as NIMHANS
Location
Bangalore
,
India

12°56′22.4″N 77°35′55.7″E / 12.939556°N 77.598806°E / 12.939556; 77.598806
CampusUrban
WebsiteOfficial Website

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS), located in Bangalore, is a premier institute for mental health sciences as well as neurosciences. It is recognised by the Government of India as an 'institute of national importance' (among others being: AIIMS-Delhi, JIPMER-Pondicherry, PGI- Chandigarh, and Sree Chitra Medical Centre, Trivandrum). On 14 November 1994, NIMHANS was declared a Deemed University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 (3 of 1956). Advanced programs in the area of services, training and research have been developed in the area of biological, behavioral and basic sciences in relation to the brain-mind-behavior-axis.

The activities and achievements of the institute have been noted by planners as well as the general public.

Founding and History

Nimhans, a multidisciplinary institute in the field of mental health and neurosciences, was the result of the amalgamation of the erstwhile mental hospital and the All India Institute of Mental Health on 27 December 1974. The Institute was Inaugurated by Dr. Karan Singh, the union minister for Health and Family Planning, establishing this autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act into a leading area of medical service and research in the country. The lunatic asylum which came into being in the later part of the 19th century established by the Government of India, was renamed as the Mental Hospital in 1925 by the Government of Mysore. In 1954, the All India Institute of Mental Health was established which, in 1974, became an autonomous Institute called NIMHANS.

Organization and administration

The functioning of the Institute is under the direction of the NIMHANS society with the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare as the President. The Principal organ of management is the Board of Management. The other statutory bodies are Finance Committee, Academic Committee, Ethics Committee, Building and Works Committee and Rehabilitation Committee.

The Institute is funded by the Government of India. Several national and international agencies like ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), DST (Department of Science and Technology (India)), UGC, CSIR, WHO, Oxfam, Alcoholics Anonymous, Desperates United UNICEF are other charities resources.

Departments

Department of Psychiatry

NIMHANS is noted for its Psychiatry department which incorporates:

Controversy and Criticism

Involvement with Suppression of Koodankulam Anti-Nuclear Protests

It was reported by prominent news sources that the Central Government has approached NIMHANS to suppress anti-nuclear protests regards to building of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. The government asked NIMHANS to dispatch psychiatrists to Kudankulam to counsel protesters. To fulfill the plan, NIMHANS developed a team of 6 members, all of them, from the Department of Social Psychiatry. The psychiatrists were sent to get a "peek a into the protesters' minds" and help them learn the importance of the plant according to one news source.[2][3][4][5][6]

Refusal to Admit Youth to Intensive Care Unit

The New Indian Express reported that the family of a 21 year old youth who died in NIMHANS, complained that, their requests for him being admitted to the ICU, due to his worsening condition, was declined by the staff. The youth, later died, after his condition started to deteriorate.[7]

Negligence of Hospital Staff Regards Mentally Disabled Man

A mentally retarded man who was admitted in NIMHANS for treatment was found to have leaped from the terrace of a building. It was reported that he was under round the clock supervision, but escaped without notice. He was found lying in a pool of blood, and was taken to the annex Emergency Section of the Hospital.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.nimhans.kar.nic.in/aboutnimhans.htm
  2. ^ http://content.ibnlive.in.com/article/19-May-2012south-india/centre-to-deal-antinuke-mindset-with-nimhans-259386-60.html
  3. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/ColumnsOthers/No-margin-for-error/Article1-865997.aspx
  4. ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=238299
  5. ^ http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article546418.ece
  6. ^ http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article546439.ece
  7. ^ http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article409736.ece
  8. ^ http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/sep/280911-Patient-under-24X7-watch-at-NIMHANS-leaps-off-terrace.htm
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