The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is considered to be one of the most important and popular medical institutions in India. The institute is located in the city of Bangaluru in Karnataka and it started its journey in 1974, as an autonomous Institution. This Institute is actually a Joint Venture between the Central Government and the Government of Karnataka. The institute was registered under the Societies Registration Act and the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare acts as the Chairman of the Governing Body. The institute has been working as a premiere research and training centre in the field of mental health and Neuro sciences. The University Grants Commission has declared it as a Deemed University in 1994, after being satisfied with the work done at NIMHANS since its inception in 1974. The Institute is mainly directed towards three important activities like manpower development, patients care and research.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangaluru has a large number of specialist departments that are working relentlessly for achieving the objectives. Some of the major departments of the institute include the department of Biophysics, Biostatistics, Clinical Psychology, Epidemiology, Human Genetics, Mental Health Education, Neuro-Microbiology, Neuro-Anaesthesia, Neurochemistry, Neurology, Neuropathology, Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, Neuro-Surgery, Neuro-Virology, Nursing, Psychiatry, Psychiatric and Neurological Rehabilitation, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychopharmacology, Speech Pathology and Audiology, and also the Ayurvedic Research Unit.
There is a high quality and well equipped modern hospital, situated adjacent to the premises of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangaluru. This is an 805-bedded hospital and out of this, 650 beds are reserved for Psychiatry and 155 for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The hospital has the general wards, paying wards and ICUs and the NIMHANS, Bangaluru also offers Neuro-Psychiatric and rehabilitation services and the outpatient services, in this hospital. The NIMHANS, Bangaluru has established itself as one of the forerunners in conducting research in the management both in drug treatment and in surgical aspects. The institute has also become successful to introduce new methods of treatment with thrombolytic agents (tissue plasminogen activator) within 3 hours of the stroke.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangaluru has so far conducted a large number of projects for studying the effect of Ayurvedic medicine in treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, since its inception. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also established the Advanced Centre for Ayurveda in Mental Health and Neurosciences at NIMHANS, with a view to augment and promote the activities. The institute has been playing an important role in the National Mental Health Programmes. The district model, developed by the Institute is now being implemented in four states of the country and is being extended to seven more states, as well. Apart from that, the institute has also established itself as the largest postgraduate training centre in mental health and neurosciences.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangaluru is offering postgraduate courses in almost all the major disciplines of Neuro Science like Psychiatry, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Social Work, Neurophysiology, Biophysics and Nursing. The institute offers the courses like Diploma in Psychological Medicine, MD in Psychological Medicine, DM in Neurology, M.Ch in Neurosurgery, PhD in Clinical Psychology, and PhD in Neurophysiology etc. The institute also offers the courses like M.Phil in Neurophysiology, Psychiatric Social Work, Medical and Social Psychology, Biophysics, and Speech Language Pathology etc. The courses like Post Doctoral Certificate in Neuro-Anaesthesia, M.Sc in Psychiatric Nursing, Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing, Diploma in Neuro Nursing, Diploma in Clinical Neurophysiology Technology are also offered in the NIMHANS, Bangaluru.
The minimum educational qualification required for getting admitted in the Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing (DPN) in National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangaluru is possessing `A` grade Certificate in General Nursing. The certificate should be recognised by Indian Nursing Council and the candidates are also required to be a registered Nurse in state Nursing Council, with two year experience. For Diploma in Clinical Neurophysiology Technology (DCNT) course, the institute gives preference to deputed candidates from State / Central Govt. / Public Undertaking / Private Institutions. The minimum required qualification is B.Sc with Physics / Electronics / Computer Sciences with minimum 2nd class in qualifying examination, or Diploma in Electronics / Electrical / Instrumentation OR Diploma in Computers (Approved by Board of Technical Education) OR PUC with 3 years experience as EEG Technician. The students willing to pursue Certificate Course in Neuroimaging & Technology course in NIMHANS, Bangaluru, are required to have a Diploma in Radiographic Technology from Vocational Board of Government of Karnataka or equivalent qualification, or Bachelor`s degree in Radiation Technology from any recognised University or equivalent qualification.
Apart from offering the above mentioned courses, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangaluru has been working as a training centre for short- term WHO fellows, as well. The institute offers training facilities to the postgraduates from different states of the country in non allied subjects like medicine, surgery, Paediatrics, and post-graduates from schools of social work, also. In fact, the institute has become the centre of attraction for postgraduates in mental health and neurosciences. The main reason behind this is that the NIMHANS, Bangaluru has all the sub specialities in mental health like child mental health, community mental health, family psychiatry and forensic psychiatry and there is a unique integrated system of manpower development in this institute, as well.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangaluru has been conducting a large number of research programmes, since its inception. The ICMR, Department of Bio-Technology, Ministry of Welfare and WHO have funded several research projects in NIMHANS, so far. Apart from that, the institute is conducting a number of projects in association with reputed national and international agencies are going on, as well. The institute also sometimes fund research programmes from its separate fund that is made up of voluntary donation. Apart from educational and research activities, the institute conducts a large number of training programmes, as well. Some of the important training programmes, carried out at the Institute, include (i) training for staff of residential Institutions under Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka, (ii) training of mental health professionals and non-mental health professionals, (iii) training on counseling under National AIDS Control Programme, (iv) training of College Teachers in students counseling and (v) training conducted by Nursing Department.
