Department of Psychiatric Social Work

Department of Psychiatric Social Work

The Department started as a part of Department of Psychiatry in the year 1963. It became the independent department in 1976. Two year Post Graduate Diploma in Psychiatric Social Work was introduced in the year 1968. In 1978, nomenclature of the Course was changed to as M.Phil (Psychiatric Social Work). Subsequently Ph.D. Programme was introduced. The department has been the member of International Association of Schools of Social Work (AISSW) and Asian and Pacific Association for Social Work Education.

Courses offered

Master of Philosophy (M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D in Psychiatric Social Work)

Objectives

=> Provision of Psychiatric Social Work (PSW) Services for families and person with mental, neurological and neurosurgical problems.
=> Develop trained manpower in PSW to carry out psychosocial research in the field of mental health and neuro sciences
=> Evolve, formulate policies and guidelines in the area of psychosocial care and support in varied social issues

Future Plans

=> National Centre for Psychosocial Support in Disaster Management.
=> Consolidation of the developments that have occurred in different areas of psychiatric social work and documentation.
Incorporating the essential elements of psychiatric social work services in the programs of welfare agencies for children, youth, women and the aged.
=> Amalgamation of psychiatric social work programs with programs of labour welfare and personnel management in industrial settings.
=> Strengthening community efforts to organize rehabilitation services in community like half-way homes, day care centres and special schools.
=> Enlisting social service support from student service organizations and other volunteers for the welfare of mentally disabled persons.
=> Organizing periodical in-service training programs to social workers in mental health centres as well as teachers working in schools of social work.
=> Development of models of training in psychiatric social work.
=> Broadening the field work placements for M.Phil trainees to include community agencies in addition to the present postings.
=> Helping / guiding schools of social work to start M.Phil / research programs.
=> Developing specialized fields like psychiatric rehabilitation, social work with children, family psychiatric social work, social work in community mental health, social work with neurologically / neurosurgically disabled, and social work emergency services.
=> Conducting systematic research - exploratory, descriptive, experimental and evaluation studies -on issues related to psychiatric social work and development of indigenous models.
=> Development of the department into a centre for advanced studies and research in social work, thus making it as an apex body for psychiatric social work programs for welfare agencies and Universities.

Contact Details

Department of Psychiatric Social Work
NIMHANS,,
Hosur Road
Bangalore - 560029,
India

Phone: +91-80-26995240