National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

This article is about the institute in India. For other institutes with a similar name, see National Institute of Mental Health.

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

Official insignia of the institute<ref>"Logo and Anthem – Nimhans". Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2022.</ref>
Motto	samatvaṃ yoga ucyate
Type	Public medical school
Established	1847 (1847) as Bangalore Lunatic Asylum<ref name="History and Milestones – Nimhans">"History and Milestones – Nimhans". Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2022.</ref> 1925 (1925) as Government Mental Hospital 27 December 1974 (27 December 1974) as NIMHANS
Budget	₹917.21 crore (US$130 million)<small>(2026)</small><ref>"DEMAND NO. 46, Department of Health and Family Welfare, MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE" (PDF). Indiabudget.gov.in. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.</ref>
President	Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare
Director	Dr. Pratima Murthy<ref>Chauhan, Bala. "Senior psychiatrist Pratima Murthy Appointed as director of NIMHANS for five years". The New Indian Express June 19, 2021 10:18 AM IST. Bengaluru. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.</ref>
Academic staff	249 <ref name=nirf_stud/>
Students	553 <ref name=nirf_stud>"NIRF 2022" (PDF). NIRF. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref>
Postgraduates	269 <ref name=nirf_stud/>
Doctoral students	284 <ref name=nirf_stud/>
Location	Bengaluru , Karnataka , India 12°56′22.4″N 77°35′55.7″E
Campus	Urban<ref>Campus, NIMHANS (September 2022). "Campus Area" (PDF). nimhans.ac.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2022.</ref><ref group=note name="Campus Area">Total area of the institute includes 144 acres of the existing campuses and 30 acres of land acquired for the construction of Bangalore north campus</ref>
Mascot	White Swan
Website	nimhans.ac.in

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) is a medical institution in Bengaluru, India.<ref>Dhar, Aarti (21 October 2010). "NIMHANS to be declared institute of national importance". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.</ref> NIMHANS serves as the apex centre for mental health education and neuroscience research in the country. It is an Institute of National Importance operating autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.<ref>"Speeches Detail - The President of India". PresidentOfIndia.nic.in. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref> NIMHANS is ranked 4th best medical institute in India, in the current National Institutional Ranking Framework.<ref>"MHRD, National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF)". www.nirfindia.org. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref>

History

The history of the institute dates back to 1847, when the Bangalore Lunatic Asylum was founded. In 1925, the Government of Mysore renamed the asylum as the Mental Hospital. The Mysore Government Mental Hospital became the first institute in India for postgraduate training in psychiatry.<ref name="History and Milestones – Nimhans"/>

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) was the result of the amalgamation of the erstwhile State Mental Hospital and the All India Institute of Mental Health (AIIMH) in 1954. The institute was established on 27 December 1974 as an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act to lead in the area of medical service and research in the country.

On 14 November 1994, NIMHANS was conferred a deemed university status by the University Grants Commission with academic autonomy. The institute has been declared as an Institute of National Importance by an act of parliament in 2012.<ref>"PRS - Bill Track - The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, Bangalore Bill, 2010". www.PRSIndia.org. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref> In March 2017, the Government of India passed the Mental Healthcare Bill 2016, which also proposes to set up NIMHANS-like institutions across the nation.<ref>IANS (8 April 2017). "Govt to set up NIMHANS-like institutes; every 20th Indian depressed: Nadda". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017 – via Business Standard.</ref><ref>"NIMHANS-like institute proposed for Vadodara - Times of India". The Times of India. 10 October 2015. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref><ref>"Odisha seeks a NIMHANS like institution in Cuttack - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref>In 2017, then-Governor of Jharkhand, Droupadi Murmu, advocated for upgrading the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) in Ranchi similar to the NIMHANS in Bengaluru.<ref>"Governor for upgrading CIP as NIMHANS, Bengaluru". The Times of India May 18, 2017, 11.27 AM IST. 17 May 2017. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref>

Campus

NIMHANS has five campuses in the city, spread over an area of 174 acres of urban establishments, which includes 30 acres of an under-construction Bangalore North campus.<ref>Campus, NIMHANS (September 2022). "Campus Area" (PDF). nimhans.ac.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2022.</ref><ref>"NIMHANS North Campus plan inches ahead". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref><ref>"NIMHANS NORTHERN CAMPUS (KYALASANAHALLI)". NIMHANS NORTHERN CAMPUS (KYALASANAHALLI).</ref> The main campuses of the institute are located in Byrasandra (hospital wing) and Lakkasandra (academic and administrative wing) localities on either side of the Hosur Road.<ref>"Locate Us – Nimhans". Retrieved 26 September 2022.</ref> The 'Community Mental Health Center' is located in the Sakalawara area on Bannerghatta Road.<ref>"Sakalawara Community Mental Health Center – Nimhans". Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2022.</ref> The 'NIMHANS Centre for Well Being' is situated in a residential area in BTM Layout.<ref>"NIMHANS Centre for Well Being – Nimhans". Retrieved 26 September 2022.</ref> A state-of-the-art convention centre located in the main campus frequently hosts international conferences, seminars, trade shows, expositions, and media events.<ref>"NIMHANS Convention Centre – Nimhans". Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2022.</ref><ref>"3rd Edition of IoT India Congress 2018 Started in Bengaluru". digitalterminal.in. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref>

NIMHANS campus

• 
  Department of Psychiatry
• 
  Neurobiology Research Centre
• 
  MV Govindaswamy Centre
• 
  NIMHANS Convention Centre
• 
  Rehabilitation Centre Park
• 
  NIMHANS Central Garden
• 
  NIMHANS Men's Hostel
• 
  NIMHANS Lakkasandra campus
• 
  NIMHANS Byrasandra campus

Organization and administration

Governance

Directors of the AIIMH/NIMHANS<ref name="auto1">"Past Directors – Nimhans". Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2022.</ref>

M. V. Govindaswamy (1954–59) D. L. N. Murti Rao (1960–62) B. D. Punekar (1963) Keki Masani (1963–64) N. C. Surya (1965–68) K. Bhaskaran (1969) R. Marthanda Varma (1969–77) K. S. Mani (1977–78) R. Marthanda Varma (1978–79) G. N. Narayana Reddy (1979–89) S. M. Channabasavanna (1989–97) M. Gourie-Devi (1997–2002) D. Nagaraja (2002–10) S. K. Shankar (2010) P. Satish Chandra (2010–15) N. Pradhan (2015) G. S. Umamaheswara Rao (2015) B. N. Gangadhar (2016–2020) G. Gururaj (2020–2021) Satish Chandra Girimaji (2021) Pratima Murthy (2021–present)

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 neurosciences. The priority gradient adopted at the institute is service, manpower development and research. A multidisciplinary integrated approach is the mainstay of this institute, paving the way to translate the results from the bench to the bedside. Several national and international funding organizations provide resources for academic and research activities.

Departments

• Biophysics
• Biostatistics
• Basic Neurosciences
• Human Genetics
• Neurochemistry
• Neuromicrobiology
• Neuropathology
• Neurophysiology
• Neurovirology
• Mental Health Education<ref name="auto">"Mental Health Education Nimhans". Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref>
• Clinical Psychology
• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• Psychiatric Social Work
• Psychiatry
• Nursing
• Clinical Neuroscience
• Neurosurgery
• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neurotoxicology
• Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology
• Neurology
• Epidemiology
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Neuroanaesthesia and Neurocritical care
• Psychiatric rehabilitation
• Speech Pathology and Audiology
• Transfusion Medicine and Haematology

Central Facilities

• Advanced Centre for Ayurveda in Mental Health and Neurosciences<ref>"Advanced Center for Ayurveda in Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bengaluru &#124; Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India". ccras.nic.in. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref>
• Central Animal Research Facility
• Sakalwara Community Mental Health Centre<ref name="auto"/>
• Centre for Public Health
• Centre for Addiction Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Engineering Section
• Library and Information Centre
• Magneto-encephalography Centre
• PET MRI Centre
• Neurobiology Research Centre
• NIMHANS Centre for Well Being
• Virtual Learning Centre
• Center for Molecular Imaging
• Centre for Brain Mapping
• Gamma Knife Centre
• NIMHANS Health Centre
• NIMHANS Integrated Centre for Yoga<ref>"ACADEMICS &#124; NICY". Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref>
• NIMHANS Gymkhana
• Nutrition and Dietetics Centre
• Physiotherapy Centre
• NIMHANS Digital Academy<ref>"NIMHANS DIGITAL ACADEMY: "Translating Best Practices" – Technology for Training and Transformation". Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref>
• NIMHANS Convention Centre
• NIMHANS Gymkhana
• WHO Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion<ref>"WHO &#124; Collaborating centres". WHO. Archived from the original on 22 July 2004.</ref>

Academics

Academic programs

Doctor of Philosophy

• Ph.D. in Biophysics
• Ph.D. in Biostatistics
• Ph.D. in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
• Ph.D. in Clinical Neurosciences (ICMR Fellowship)
• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychopharmacology & Neurotoxicology
• Ph.D. in Epidemiology
• Ph.D. in History of Psychiatry
• Ph.D. in Human Genetics
• Ph.D. in Integrative Medicine
• Ph.D. in Mental Health Rehabilitation
• Ph.D. in Neurochemistry
• Ph.D. in Neuroimaging & Interventional Radiology
• Ph.D. in Neurological Rehabilitation
• Ph.D. in Neurology
• Ph.D. in Neuroimaging & Interventional Radiology
• Ph.D. in Neuromicrobiology
• Ph.D. in Neuropathology
• Ph.D. in Neurophysiology
• Ph.D. in Neurovirology
• Ph.D. in Nursing
• Ph.D. in Psychiatric Social Work
• Ph.D. in Psychosocial Support
• Ph.D. in Psychiatry
• Ph.D. in Public Health
• Ph.D. in Speech Pathology & Audiology

Super Speciality Medicine Courses

• DM in Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology
• DM in Neurology (Post MBBS)
• DM in Neurology (Post MD/DNB)
• DM in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• DM in Addiction Psychiatry
• DM in Forensic Psychiatry
• DM in Geriatric Psychiatry
• DM in Neuroanaesthesia & Neurocritical Care
• DM in Neuropathology
• M.Ch. in Neurosurgery (Post MBBS)
• M.Ch. in Neurosurgery (Post MS/DNB)

Post-graduate Degree/Fellowship

• MD in Psychiatry
• MD in Ayurveda Manovigyan Evam Manasa Roga
• Fellowship in Psychosocial Support in Disaster Management
• Fellowship in Geriatric Mental Health Care
• Fellowship in Mental Health Education
• Fellowship in Geriatric Mental Health Nursing
• Fellowship in Psychiatric Rehabilitation
• Fellowship in Psychosocial Care for elderly
• M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology
• M.Phil. in Psychiatric Social Work
• M.Sc. in Biostatistics
• M.Sc. in Neurosciences
• M.Sc. in Yoga Therapy
• Master in Public Health
• M.Sc. in Neuroscience Nursing
• M.Sc. in Psychiatric Nursing

Post-doctoral Fellowship

• Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Neuroanaesthesia
• Neurocritical Care
• Neuroinfection
• Hospital Infection Control
• Epilepsy
• Movement Disorders
• Neuromuscular Disorder
• Stroke
• Neuropathology
• Paediatric Neurology
• Transfusion Medicine
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Acute Care & Emergency Psychiatry
• Community Mental Health
• Addiction Medicine
• Forensic Psychiatry
• Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Obsessive Compulsive disorder & related disorders
• Clinical Neurosciences & Therapeutics in Schizophrenia
• Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation of Psychiatric disorders
• Cognitive Neurosciences
• Women's Mental Health

Undergraduate Programmes

• B.Sc. Nursing
• B.Sc. Anaesthesia Technology
• B.Sc. Radiography
• B.Sc. Clinical Neurophysiology Technology

Rankings

University <!----------Medical----------> rankings

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences has been ranked 4th among medical institution in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework medical ranking for 2023.<ref name="Rankings_NIRF_M_2023" />

Mental Health Outreach

NIMHANS experts criticized a report on mental health in India published by the World Health Organization. Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. S K Chaturvedi, said that the figures by the WHO were highly inflated. Where, in the report, it alleges that 36% of Indians have depression, the highest among all the countries, the NIMHANS faculty state that the incidence of depression is much lower due to a stronger social support system and family structure.<ref>"NIMHANS Criticizes WHO's Report Claiming India A 'Depressed Nation' - French Tribune". www.FrenchTribune.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref> However, the lifetime prevalence of depression in India measured by the study was only 9%, and the figure of 36% was a different metric that was mistakenly reported.<ref>Bromet, Evelyn; Andrade, Laura Helena; Hwang, Irving; Sampson, Nancy A.; Alonso, Jordi; Girolamo, Giovanni de; Graaf, Ron de; Demyttenaere, Koen; Hu, Chiyi; Iwata, Noboru; Karam, Aimee N.; Kaur, Jagdish; Kostyuchenko, Stanislav; Lépine, Jean-Pierre; Levinson, Daphna; Matschinger, Herbert; Mora, Maria Elena Medina; Browne, Mark Oakley; Posada-Villa, Jose; Viana, Maria Carmen; Williams, David R.; Kessler, Ronald C. (26 July 2011). "Cross-national epidemiology of DSM-IV major depressive episode". BMC Medicine. 9 (1): 90. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-90. PMC 3163615. PMID 21791035.</ref> In May 2015, the faculty association of the institute lodged criticism against the 'Juvenile Justice Bill' which was tabled in parliament.<ref>Ramakrishnan, Arlene Manoharan, Swagata Raha, amp, Shruthi (23 April 2015). "Juveniles need reform, not prison". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)</ref> Preeti Jacob, from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, was quoted as saying "Juveniles are less culpable and are much more amenable to rehabilitative efforts and thus should not be transferred to the adult criminal justice system. The assessments that are being proposed in the bill in order to ascertain the mental capacity to commit an offence are arbitrary and unscientific."<ref>"Legal experts express concern over Juvenile Justice Bill". OneIndia.com. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref><ref>"Opinion: The Danger of Treating Children As Adults". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref>

In December 2014, it was reported that a soldier from the Indian Navy was being held in NIMHANS for a month to evaluate whether he was suffering from mental illness, after acting as a whistleblower. After the month-long evaluation, it was concluded that the Navy person was not suffering from any mental illness.<ref>"Navy Sailor not Suffering from Mental Illness: Nimhans". NewIndianExpress.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref><ref>"Nimhans report gives clean chit to 'whistleblower' sailor - Times of India". IndiaTimes.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref> In July 2013, TOI reported that NIMHANS was collaborating with the Central Bureau of Investigation to train its staff with interrogation techniques.<ref>Neeraj Chauhan (15 July 2013). "NIMHANS to train CBI in grilling bigshots | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 September 2021.</ref> In 2012, the central government approached NIMHANS to suppress anti-nuclear protests in regard to building the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. The government asked NIMHANS to dispatch psychiatrists to Kudankulam to counsel protesters. To fulfil the plan, NIMHANS developed a team of six members, all of them from the Department of Social Psychiatry. The psychiatrists were sent to get a "peek into the protesters' minds" and help them learn the importance of the plant.<ref>"Koodankulam counselling for protestors flayed". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 September 2021.</ref><ref>"Plan to counsel anti-nuclear protesters draws flak". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2021.</ref>

In 2008, a reality show contestant, Shinjini Sen, after getting reprimanded by the TV show judges, temporarily lost her voice, and physical mobility. It was alleged by the media that the television show judges' behaviour caused such disability. To resolve her case, she was flown from Kolkata to Bangalore's NIMHANS to be treated for a neurobiological condition.<ref>"Hope floats as docs work to get Shinjini back on feet - Times Of India". archive.ph. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref><ref name="indiatimes1">"Shinjini talks, Guv wishes her speedy recovery - Times Of India". archive.ph. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref><ref>"Shinjini stable, say doctors - Times Of India". archive.ph. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref> Professor B N Gangadhar, the then medical superintendent, told the press, "We can say at this juncture that she could be suffering from depression. Depression does not lead to permanent loss of speech or physical disability. We are diagnosing why that has happened. There could be complex neurological factors leading to such conditions."<ref name="indiatimes1"/>

Controversies

In February 2014, NIMHANS approached the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to complain about a film to be released with the same name. Although initially, the institution was able to block the release of the film if it was named as such, subsequently, the film-maker was able to launch his film without renaming it, once the Censor Board and KFCC approved the name in its second round.<ref>"After a one-year fight, Nimhans gets stay on film name - Bangalore Mirror -". BangaloreMirror.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.</ref>

Notable people

NIMHANS has a strong alumni network of medical scientists and doctors, taking over many prestigious positions across the world. Some of the prominent people associated with the institute include clinical psychologists H. Narayan Murthy,<ref>"Dr S. Srikanta Sastri &#124; Official Website". srikanta-sastri.kk5.org. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref> Radhika Chandiramani,<ref>Narrain, Arvind; Chandran, Vinay (17 December 2015). Nothing to Fix: Medicalisation of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (in français). SAGE Publications India. ISBN 9789351509165.</ref> Satwant Pasricha,<ref>"Most rebirth claims are true". hindustantimes.com. 5 August 2007.</ref> Elayidath Muhammad,<ref>"Psycho Mohmed". greenbooksindia.com. Retrieved 23 July 2021.</ref> philosophers and yoga therapists S. K. Ramachandra Rao<ref>"Life - S. K. Ramachandra Rao Memorial Website". profskr.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref> H. R. Nagendra,<ref>"Get to know Dr HR Nagendra, Modi's yoga guru recommended to Arvind Kejriwal | IndiaTV News". Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2017.</ref> psychiatrists M. Sarada Menon,<ref>"'People didn't understand mental illness'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2017.</ref> Shekhar Seshadri,<ref>"Child and Adolescent Psychiatry-faculty – Nimhans". Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2022.</ref> Jaswant Singh Neki, Valsamma Eapen,<ref>Eapen, Valsamma (17 August 2011). Autism: A Neurodevelopmental Journey from Genes to Behaviour. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 978-953-307-493-1.</ref> neuroscientists, Akhilesh Pandey<ref>"Dr. Akhilesh Pandey". Indian Cancer Genome Atlas Conference 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.</ref> Turaga Desiraju,<ref name="Neurosciences - An Overview">"Neurosciences - An Overview" (PDF). Neuroscience Academy. 2017.</ref> S. K. Shankar, Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath,<ref>"Dr. Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath - MSCTR | Cancer Research |Translational Research". MSCTR | Cancer Research |Translational Research. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2017.</ref> Ganesan Venkatasubramanian<ref name="Nimhans Faculty Profile">"Nimhans Faculty Profile". www.nimhans.ac.in. 25 December 2018. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.</ref> Bilikere Dwarakanath,<ref>"Bilikere S. Dwarakanath (0000-0001-6988-2601)". orcid.org. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref> neurologists Naeem Sadiq,<ref>"Parkinson's disease cured after successful stem cell therapy". @businessline. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.</ref> Sunil Pradhan,<ref>"Padma Shri neurologist conferred DSc by MP university". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.</ref> and neurosurgeons, N. K. Venkataramana,<ref>"Dr.N.K. Venkataramana, Neurosurgeon in Bangalore - BGS Global Hospitals | sehat". www.sehat.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2017.</ref> R. Marthanda Varma among others.<ref name="auto1"/>

Bibliography

• Willford, Andrew (24 January 2022). "'Do You Hear Voices, or Do You Think You Hear Voices?': Malevolence and Modernity in the Psychiatric Clinic". South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 45 (1): 164–182. doi:10.1080/00856401.2022.2018639. S2CID 246342737.

See also

• Mental health in India

External links

• {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}