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Nodal Center for Psychosocial Care in
Disasters
The
M
inistry of Health, Government of India has recognized the National Institute of Mental
Health and Neuro Sciences as the Nodal Center for Psychosocial Care in Disasters. NIMHANS has
been involved in psychosocial support and mental health services in natural and human made
disasters for the last twenty-five years. Some of the major disasters where in NIMHANS was
involved are Venus Circus fire tragedy, Bangalore (1981), Bhopal Gas tragedy
(1984), Lattur Earthquake (1992), Orissa Super Cyclone (1999), Gujarat
Earthquake (2001) and Riots (2002), South Indian Tsunami (2004) and
the Kashmir Earthquake (2005). Based on the experiences of providing psychosocial
support and mental health services for the survivors of the disasters, NIMHANS has
evolved and standardized a 'Normalization Model' which emphasizes involvement of local
community resources like the Governmental, Non Governmental sectors and the community survivors
who could carry out simple and effective community based interventions to alleviate the emotional
and social problems of the survivors and various risk groups. These community manpower resources
need to be empowered through various capacity building exercise to bring in mastery over the
events and problems. The various standardized materials that need to be used in accordance to the
rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and rebuilding phases are given in this portal. NIMHANS
welcomes information of adoption and use of these materials. The Department of Psychiatric
Social Work regularly organizes Trainers of Trainee program on Disaster Psychosocial Support
and Mental Health Services. For further information on these contact:
The Director
NIMHANS
Bangalore
or
The Professor
and Head
Department of Psychiatric Social Work
NIMHANS
Bangalore.
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