For a new generation of mental health pioneers

(From right) Vandana Gopikumar of Banyan, S. Parasuraman of TISS and Dr. Joske Bunders of Vrije Universiteit at the inauguration of the new campus of BALM — Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

City-based non-governmental organisation Banyan, which has over the past two decades become a shining example for social entrepreneurship and care-giving for destitute homeless women, on Friday inaugurated a new campus for its Banyan Academy for Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) at Kovalam on the East Coast Road.

At the inaugural event, Banyan’s patrons, donors and well-wishers renewed their pledge towards enhancing research, care and commitment in the field of mental health. 

The new campus will also house the Institute of Mental Health, Social Sciences and Transdisciplinary Research (IMHST) that was launched by Banyan last year to bridge the human resource gap in the mental health sector.

Originally launched as a care home, Banyan has recently branched into equipping youngsters with skills to participate in the mental health sector. 

Nalini Rao, dean of IMHST, said “We have tied up with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam to offer postgraduate programmes in social work and mental health, and applied psychology,” Dr. Rao said. 

N. Ram, chairman of Kasturi & Sons Ltd., highlighted the formidable task in bridging knowledge and practice in the field of mental health.

“There is an imperative need to develop institutes of excellence that can build cadres of social work practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and mental health managers,” he said. 

Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, emphasised the need to care for mentally ill persons from poor families. “Often, people with mental illnesses are treated with ignorance and subjected to abuse in our country, due to lack of options. It is important to pave the way for their care and rehabilitation,” he said. 

The IMHST also signed MoUs with Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam for engagement in programmes, knowledge sharing and use of resources. 

Eminent gynaecologist Kamala Selvaraj, Director of TISS S. Parasuraman, VU Amsterdam’s Joske Bunders, Director of Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development Latha Pillai, former judge of the Madras High Court Prabha Sridevan, adviser to chairman of Aditya Birla Group Kris Ramachandran, restaurateur M. Mahadevan, board member of Reserve Bank of India Nachiket Mor and Chairman-board of trustees of The Banyan A. Sankaranarayanan also spoke at the event.

Vandana Gopikumar, co-founder, Banyan, was present.