50 years of NIMHANS: President Droupadi Murmu underlines need for greater focus on mental health promotion

President Droupadi Murmu emphasizes the importance of mental health promotion, addressing rising awareness and innovative initiatives at NIMHANS.

As caring for the mind and the brain is getting more and more relevant around the world, a greater focus on mental health promotion will become even more important in the years to come, said President Droupadi Murmu on Friday (January 3, 2025).

Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of NIMHANS in Bengaluru, the President said issues and concerns of mental health had not received enough attention in some societies in the past. “In recent times, however, awareness about mental health has been rising. The unscientific beliefs and stigma associated with mental illnesses are a matter of the past, making it easier for those suffering from various ailments to seek help. This has been a welcome development especially at this juncture, because a variety of mental health issues are taking epidemic proportions around the world,” she said.

Pointing out that the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, led to a spike in concerns surrounding mental health, President Murmu said, “Every age group is facing problems peculiar to it. Teenagers and youngsters face more uncertainty in their studies today due to social pressures and comparisons. Working professionals face more stress and a large number of elderly people suffer from loneliness due to social changes. Women, bearing the burden of domestic responsibilities and care-giving for the family, are prone to a range of mental illnesses that usually go unnoticed. However, it is truly heartening to note that the rising awareness has made it possible for patients to open up and share their problems.”

While organisations have started putting mechanisms in place to respond to such issues, initiatives such as Tele-MANAS facilitate counselling anywhere anytime, she said, lauding NIMHANS as a pioneer.

Asserting that NIMHANS exemplifies the successful integration of modern healthcare systems with traditional methods such as yoga and Ayurveda to alleviate mental and physical distress, President Murmu also lauded the higher representation of women at NIMHANS. “I understand that 79.7% of undergraduate students and 61.4% of postgraduate students are women. I believe women can add a unique perspective in mental healthcare – in care-giving as well as in research,” she added.

On the occasion, she inaugurated the Psychiatry Specialty Block, Central Laboratory Complex and Bhima Hostel at NIMHANS. The President also dedicated modern diagnostic facilities – the advanced 3T MRI Scanner and DSA System to the nation. 

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said patient footfall in NIMHANS has grown more than fivefold — from under 10 lakh in the 1970s to over 50 lakh in the last decade. “The scale at which NIMHANS treats its immense footfall of patients makes them a leader in quality healthcare in India,” he said.