National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences - NIMHANS

About National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences - NIMHANS

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences is a multidisciplinary Institute for patient care and academic pursuit in the frontier area of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. The Lunatic Asylum which came into being in the latter part of the 19th Century was renamed as Mental Hospital in 1925 by the erstwhile Government of Mysore. This hospital and All India Institute of Mental Health established in 1954 by Government of India were amalgamated on 27th December 1974, and thus was formed the autonomous National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). The priority gradient adopted at the Institute is service, manpower development and research. Multidisciplinary integrated approach is the mainstay of this institute, paving the way to translate the results from the bench to the bedside. On November 14th, 1994, NIMHANS has been declared a Deemed University by the University Grants Commission, with academic autonomy. The Institute functions under the direction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka. Several National and International funding organisations provide resources for research. The Institute awards degrees and diplomas. DM in Neuroradiology, Post Doctoral Fellowship in Neuroanaesthesia, Post Doctoral Fellowship in Neuropathology and M.Phil. in Neurosciences. In the year 2008, Post Doctoral Fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has also been started.

Location  - NIMHANS is about 8 km from Bangalore City Railway Station and about 55 km from Bangalore Airport (Bangaluru International Airport). Taxi and auto rickshaws are available. Map Location

Departments

• Biophysics.
• Biostatistics.
• Epidemiology.
• Human Genetics.
• Mental Health Education.
• Mental Health and Social Psychology.
• Neuroanaesthesia.
• Neurochemistry.
• Neuroimaging & Interventional Radiology.
• Neurology.
• Neuromicrobiology.
• Neuropathology.
• Neurophysiology.
• Neurosurgery.
• Neurovirology.
• Nursing.
• Psychiatric and Neurological Rehabilitation.
• Psychiatric Social Work.
• Psychiatry.
• Psychopharmacology.
• Speech Pathology and Audiology.

Facilities

Accommodation - There are six hostels attached to the Institute – Kabini hostel, Staff hostel, hostel for men, hostel for ladies and two hostels for female nurses. The junior residents admitted for various courses are required to stay in the hostels, subject to availability. Students admitted to post-graduate courses, or the Ph.D. programme or to M.Phil courses are provided accommodation in either men’s or ladies hostels. The accommodation generally will be a single room facility and is partially furnished. Family accommodation is not available. The accommodation is free for junior residents. However, they are required to pay Rs.250/- per month towards electricity and water charges. Candidates who are admitted to the Ph.D and M.Phil courses are required to pay Rs.250/- per month towards accommodation, electricity and water charges. Candidates admitted to the nursing course are provided rent free and partially furnished accommodation. Those residing in the hostels should compulsorily join the mess, which is run on a sharing basis. The warden appointed by the Director shall have general supervising authority over the hostel inmates. Those residing in the hostel are required to adhere to hostel rules and regulations.

Library and Information Centre - A conference hall is also part of the Library and Information Centre. It subscribes to over 1500 e-Journals in addition to over 350 National / International print Journals in the field. Collection includes 35,000 books and 40,000 back volumes of journals, thesis and dissertations , research reports. NIC (National Informatics Centre) NIMHANS established its National Informatics Centre NET (NICNET) node, with its satellite-based national network, with 64Kbps RF link providing internet and E-mail Services. NIC also has software and hardware input to this collaborative centre located at National Neuroscience Information Centre of NIMHANS.

Kannada Language Learning Programme - Kannada is one of the oldest Dravidian languages. It is the state’s official language. It is desirable that Non Kannada speaking PG students make efforts to learn this language for better communication with patients and their family members. Department of Publication organizes 3 months Kannada language programme in collaboration with the Department of Kannada & Culture, Government of Karnataka to comprehend and to speak and write in Kannada. Students are required to attend these sessions. As majority of the patients seen at NIMHANS speak Kannada, it is mandatory that students learn to comprehend and speak Kannada.

District Mental Health Program - District Mental Health Program (DMHP) is an approach to decentralize mental health care in the community using the public health infrastructure and other resources. This model has been pilot tested in Bellary District of Karnataka State and found to be very useful to address the basic mental health needs of the population. This model has been implemented in all the states and currently there are 125 DMHP sites in India. The Ministry of Health, Government of India envisages extension of District Mental Health Program to all the districts in the country as part of the 11th five-year plan. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India has revitalized the DMHP based the available evidence. As part of this training modules were developed in NIMHANS. Over 70 mental health professionals from all over the country as part of national consultative meeting held in NIMHANS offered valuable suggestions in developing this material. The revised modules were reviewed by a group of mental health and public health professionals in the Ministry of Health and Family welfare to develop the final version of modules.

Nodal Centre for Psychosocial Care in Disasters - The Ministry of Health, Government of India has recognized the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences as the Nodal Centre for Psychosocial Care in Disasters. NIMHANS has been involved in psychosocial support and mental health services in natural and human made disasters for the last twenty-five years. The Department of Psychiatric Social Work regularly organizes Trainers of Trainee program on Disaster Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Services. For further information on these contact: The Director, NIMHANS, Bangalore
Or The Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore.

Advanced Centre for Yoga - Situated in the 3rd floor of the new building of department for rehabilitation, the centre has capacity for conducting 3- 4 small batches of yoga therapy sessions simultaneously. The entire central hall has a capacity to conduct yoga sessions for 40 plus members. The centre is fully equipped with communication and research facilities. These facilities also aid in conducting regular academic programs in the centre. The Advanced Centre for Yoga has been conducting 1-month Yoga appreciation course for students and staffs who are interested in learning yoga. This course is opened to any students (above graduate qualification in the field of health) and staff/faculty from of any medical/health related institutions. Trainees have to undergo 30 hours of practical and theory classes as part of the course curriculum. Participants will be provided handouts and reading material/ CD during the course. They will be given a certificate at the end of the course if they have attended at least 80% of the classes. Course Fee is Rs 250/- per 1 month course.

Hospital Services - Facilities include:

Deaddiction Centre - The clinical services  consist of inpatient and outpatient consultations for substance abuse disorders ( alcohol and other drug abuse).

Academic Programmes offered:

1. A one month course is held for medical and non medical professionals working with substance abuse problems. The course also includes training in skills for counselling clients.
2. Courses involving training of trainers for medical officers and nursing personnel working in Deaddiction centres from southern India,are regularly offered under the auspices of a WHO - Ministry of Health funded training scheme.
3. The Centre provides training to non- governmental organisations involved in community developmental activities. Skills to handle persons with drug and alcohol abuse as well as their families form the major component of these programmes.

Family Psychiatry Centre - It is essentially a referral centre, where in families are seen in therapy either as out patients or in patients. The centre handles around 250 to 300 new referrals a year. At this point of time this is the only major family psychiatry centre in India that practices and trains formal systemic family therapy.

Academic Programmes offered:

1.  Basic Course in Family Therapy:

• Eligibility: Masters Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling and Guidance, or Psycho Social Rehabilitation.
• Duration: 1 month to 3 months.
• Course: Orientation to family therapy, lectures, discussions, seminars, tutorials on theoretical topics, role plays, video demonstrations, observation of family therapy under supervision, and case discussions.
• The candidate should apply to the Director of NIMHANS, mentioning the time (starting in the months of February, May, August and November), which she/ he would like to start the training. If in a course the candidate has to apply through the school or organization the he/ she belongs to.

2.  Advanced Certificate Course in Family Therapy:

• Eligibility: M.Phil in Mental Health and Social Psychology or Psychiatric Social Work or those who finished 600 hours of supervised family therapy.
• Duration: 2 months.
• Course: Lectures, discussions, seminars, tutorials on theoretical topics, role plays, video demonstrations, conducting family therapy under supervision and supervision of trainees.
• The candidate should apply to the Director of NIMHANS, mentioning the time (starting in the months of February, May, August and November), which she/ he would like to start the training. If in a course, the candidate has to apply through the school or organization the he/ she belongs to.

OCD Clinic - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Clinic conducts research work carried out in the clinic is published widely in national and international peer reviewed journals. Research activities of the clinic include many aspects of OCD such as phenomenology, course and outcome studies, family/genetic studies, treatment aspects, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological studies.

Parkinson Disorder and Movement Disorder Clinic - It is a speciality clinic for patients (adults or children) with a variety of disorders which classify under "Movement Disorders".

Perinatal Psychiatry Clinic - It is a Clinic devoted to Women with Psychiatric Problems related to Pregnancy and the Postpartum.  

Psychology Clinic - The Psychology Clinic caters to the needs of those individuals who wish to seek professional consultation for addressing psychological issues pertaining to stressful life situation, interpersonal strains or resolving internal dilemmas and difficulties.

Geriatric Clinic - It is a clinic for the elderly above the age of 60 years with various neuropsychiatric issues like dementia (including Alzheimer's Dementia), Depression, Psychosis, and Chronic Pain etc.

Admission for Foreign Nationals - Foreign Nationals are required to submit their applications through the Diplomatic Channel (through the Ministry of External Affairs). They shall also appear for a Common Entrance Test along with the other candidates. Students possessing foreign qualifications who intend to seek admission to academic courses at NIMHANS are required to produce an Equivalence Certificate from Association of Indian Universities/Medical Council of India to facilitate their admission to the course.

The guidelines to obtain an Equivalence Certificate from Association of Indian universities are as follows:

1. The candidate should submit degree/diploma certificate together with year-wise academic transcript/marksheet duly authenticated by Indian Mission abroad/concerned foreign Mission in India
2. Accreditation status of the degree awarding foreign University/authority
3. A Bank Draft of US $ 50 or equivalent Indian currency in favour of the Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi as fee The Association of Indian Universities does not recognize any degree/diploma  awarded by accredited foreign Universities for programmes/courses conducted in India.

Brain Bank  - Brain Bank (with special reference to pathological states) started with the financial support of DST, DBT and ICMR as National Facility to promote research in Neurobiology using human neuron tissues. The brain tissue collected with informed consent of those relatives within 4-24 hours following death are frozen for Biochemical, Immuno-histochemical and Molecular Biological studies. Large number of formalin fixed brain tissue from various Neurological, Neuro-surgical and Psychiatric disorders are available for study.

Central Animal Research Facility - The Officer-in-charge central animal research facility is conducting a short-term course on laboratory animal care, breeding and management. The course is of 30 hour programme in power point presentation. In addition to this, there will be practical training programme in routine laboratory animal techniques. It is mandatory for students and investigators planning to use laboratory animals to attend the course and secure a pass grade.

Prizes - The following prizes are awarded by NIMHANS to the best outgoing students in various examinations:

1. Dr.D.L.N.Murthy Rao Memorial Prize for the best outgoing student in Diploma in Psychiatry (DPM) examination.
2. Dr.M.V.Govindaswamy Memorial Prize for the best outgoing student (for securing the highest marks in the aggregate of Part I and Part II in M.Phil. in Mental Health & Social Psychology examination.
3. Dr.M.V.Govindaswamy Memorial Prize for the best outgoing student (for securing the highest marks in the aggregate of Part I and Part II in M.Phil. in Psychiatric Social Work examination.
4. Dr.M.V.Govindaswamy and Dr.D.L.N.Murthy Rao Memorial Prize for the candidate who secures the highest marks in the examination of Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing (DPN).
5. Infosys Foundation Award for excellence in Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing (DPN) and Diploma in Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing (DNN) for securing highest marks.
6. Shri.Mukund Memorial Prize for the candidate who secures the highest marks in Diploma in Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing (DNN) examination.
7. Silver Jubilee Award for the best outgoing student in DM in Neurology.
8. Silver Jubilee Award for the best outgoing student in M.Ch. Neurosurgery.
9. Silver Jubilee Award for the best outgoing student in MD in Psychiatry.
10. Dr.R.N.Moorthy Award for the candidates who secures the highest marks
11. (in the aggregate of Part I and Part II) of M.Phil. in Neurophysiology, M.Phil. in Biophysics and M.Sc. in Psychiatric Nursing examinations.
12. Dr. Anisya Vasanth Memorial Award for the best Postgraduate Resident in Neurology.
13. Golden Jubilee Award for the best outgoing student in DM Neuroradiology.

Alumni Association - All graduates of NIMHANS are requested to become members of the NIMHANS.

Publication - The Publication department in the Institute brings out reports of activities, research publications, health education materials periodically. More than 66 publications have been brought out so far. In addition, translation of material from English to other Indian languages are enabled. The implementation of official language in the Institute as per the directions of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is undertaken here.