November 03, 2022

As a part of psychology course students should delve deeper into understanding different mental health issues and where it is exactly rooted from and, then accordingly understand the best and most effective course of treatment. For this very reason, they visited the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, often referred to as NIMHANS. This is an institution that has a major aim of providing evidence-based care for neurological disorders, alongside providing rehabilitation. Additionally, the government institution heavily intends on eliminating the stigma attached to mental and neurological illnesses, alongside promoting mental health literacy.

As a result of this, BA (honors) first year psychology students were given an opportunity to visit the institution, on the day of Mental Health SANTHE. This mega fair was mainly organized to destigmatize mental illnesses, and educate the population on what mental illness really is. The guests each spoke about mental health and the problems faced by people today regardless of whether the person was sane or insane. They also spoke about the lack of communication between people that led to an increase in mental health issues. Whereas with communication they would be able to provide the right kind of help to those in need. As part of the ceremony, we were also able to witness the release of certain books. Students, were also given an opportunity to learn more about suicide prevention, and mental illnesses and what exactly can be done to curb or entirely cure such illnesses, by the help of psychiatrists, and any other techniques. In this fair, all the organizational stakeholders were brought together, and set up stalls and project their work with regards to mental health and suicide prevention. This was done by highlighting and touching upon the underlying causes of the illness, and how it can be prevented, alongside mentioning the different impacts of the illness, be it regarding the impact it can have only on one's family members, or how it can impact the individuals who are subjected to the illness. 

The main goal of this field trip was to broaden the horizon on mental illnesses, and how different techniques can be used to cure such illnesses, via providing a space wherein clients/patients can share their problems, and then accordingly seek help/treatment; as, the fair was set up by the organizational stakeholders itself, who are well connected in the field of mental health.