MSW programme in TISS likely from next year

CHENNAI: A two-year Masters programme in mental health in social work is likely to be introduced next year at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), facilitated by practical inputs from the Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) and the research expertise of the University College London (UCL). A tripartite memorandum of understanding to engage in research, teaching and training in mental health was signed by the three institutions on Tuesday.

Founder-director of BALM and co-founder of The Banyan Vandana Gopikumar said, “The institute would research common challenges across the world in the mental health sector, including a study of homelessness, community mental health and stigma associated with the issue and mental health institutions.”

“With no comprehensive study being undertaken so far to create a database on mental health in the country, the three institutions could jointly strive towards creating such a record,” said Dr Sushrut Jadhav, Academic Director, UCL-BALM research and teaching programme.

TISS director Prof S Parasuraman said that this joint initiative would assist in developing a teaching programme in the field of mental health in a year.

According to Keshav Desiraju, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, “In the last fifty years, India has focused on creating mere MBBS-qualified doctors. But we have not produced enough, nor is the quality of doctors generated entirely satisfactory’’.