Department

NIMHANS has been involved in psychosocial support and mental health services (PSSMHS) for survivors of disasters in the past four decades. This includes providing psychosocial first aid, care, support, rehabilitation, reconstruction, preparedness, capacity building, hazard vulnerability risk reduction and mitigation. Further, human resource development, research, program developments and policy initiatives have been in the forefront. NIMHANS has been recognized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI, as a nodal Centre for Psychosocial support in (PSS) in disaster in 2005, as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ by the National Disaster Management Authority in 2010, and a Nodal Centre for Psychosocial support and Mental Health services for the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020.

Recognizing the need for furtherance of the objectives of PSSMHS, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI sanctioned the Centre for Psycho Social Support in Disaster Management at NIMHANS in August 2019. Since its enhancement it has been striving to upkeep the vision and mission not only at the national level but the international level in the specialized crosscutting theme of psychosocial support and mental health services in promotive, preventive and curative aspects. 

Objectives

• Developing the culture of psychosocial preparedness for any disaster.
• Aiding development of evidence-based policies on psychosocial support.
• Developing institutional capabilities for closing the gap between knowledge and practice.
• Catalyzing development of appropriate human resources at all levels.
• Encouraging and undertaking community based practice of psychosocial support in disaster management.
• Undertaking advocacy on psychosocial support in disaster management.
• Integrating psychosocial support components with other aspects of disaster management.
• Identifying the resilience related factors and its translation to clinical practice
• Conceptualize a framework, design and develop data gathering system for assessment of community mental health, monitoring the effectiveness of all our community intervention programs, and facilitate evidence based research activity at PSSDM.
• To develop an infrastructure of full range of psychiatric, psychological, social assessment tools relevant to community level interventions.
• To start one new academic program, in psychosocial and mental health interventions for disaster affected individuals and communities, for professional capacity building through academic institutions and primary health care system.
• Conceptualize and develop specialized clinical services for psychosocial and mental health services for individuals/ families exposed to traumatic experiences in the form of medical emergencies – like accidents, stroke, and unexpected death of a family member.