From Compassion to Action: Building the Future of Psychiatry in Karnataka
At the outset, I congratulate our beloved outgoing president and his exceptional team for their successful tenure.
I express my sincere gratitude to every member who has placed their trust in me. I also acknowledge my teachers, mentors, colleagues, family, and patients, who have shaped my journey. Every psychiatrist knows that our greatest teachers are often the patients who entrust us with their most vulnerable moments.
As a woman psychiatrist, I recognise that many women before me quietly broke barriers through dedication, perseverance, and excellence. I stand on their shoulders today. This moment is not only about one individual; it reflects the growing leadership of women in psychiatry and the inclusive spirit of our Society.
But today is not about celebrating a position. It is about discussing our shared responsibility.
Ours is one of the oldest state branches, established in 1968. We are a growing family with over 800 members. We have won the best state branch award 11 times, a feat that no other state has achieved. We have >ten mandatory activities that includes this conference, CMEs, news letter publication, quiz for UGs and PGs, debate & essay for school children, teacher awareness program, cricket (as part of CME), and so on. I can spend the whole day talking about our activities. In short, if you refer to the article II of MOA of IPSKC constitution, we have been actively doing almost all those activities proposed in there.
Psychiatry in Karnataka has evolved remarkably. We have world-class academic institutions, dedicated clinicians, researchers, and young psychiatrists full of enthusiasm. Yet our challenges remain immense. Mental illness continues to be surrounded by stigma.
SUICIDE:
India recorded 14,488 student suicides in 2024 according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data published in 2026. This figure reflects a 4.3% increase from 13,892 cases in 2023, marking an 80% surge over the past decade amid intense academic pressure and systemic challenges.
Suicide prevention programme are done by NGOs and other private institutions. Hence, initiative of this suicide prevention programme will be taken up by IPSKC in collaboration with all the medical colleges.
My Vision
My vision is simple.I want the Karnataka Psychiatric Society to become:
- A centre of academic excellence.
- A trusted voice for mental health .
- A mentor for young psychiatrists.
- A partner for government and civil society.
- A champion of ethical and compassionate psychiatric practice.
Children and adolescents are struggling with academic pressure, excessive screen time, and emotional distress. Substance use disorders continue to affect families across our state The drug awareness programme has been ongoing since this year. All the medical colleges will strengthen the drug awareness programme in collaboration with:
- Government health services, State Police Department, private practitioners.Non-governmental organizations.
- Educational institutions. All the medical colleges will take up the drug awareness programme and also in the rural health care facilities like CHCs and PHCs.
Our Society must remain academically vibrant. I acknowledge the work done by Dr.Vijay Harbishettair and his team at Dharwad (DIMS) for two days in a workshop by strengthening the academic and research skills training.
During my tenure, one of my priorities will be to strengthen the academic and research skills of our trainees through focused training workshops. Subject to institutional support and sponsorship availability, we plan to organise sessions on literature search methods, critical appraisal of scientific literature, and converting a thesis into a manuscript. These workshops will help our young colleagues find the best available evidence, understand and interpret research papers, and publish their own work with greater confidence. We aim to build a strong research culture and encourage evidence-based thinking from the early stages of their careers.
For our faculty members, we hope to conduct workshops that further strengthen research and publication skills. Subject to institutional support and sponsorship, we plan to organize training on peer review, manuscript writing, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) and their interpretation. These programs will help faculty enhance the quality of their research, contribute more effectively as reviewers and authors, and mentor the next generation of researchers. Together, these initiatives will support academic excellence and promote a culture of high-quality research within our organization.
The National Medical Commission’s Curriculum for MD Psychiatry clearly recognizes psychotherapy as a core competency of every psychiatrist.
I acknowledge the work of Dr Kishore (prof and HOD of JSS medical college) towards psychotherapy training in Karnataka and all over India. During my tenure, the psychotherapy curriculum will be taken up. The curriculum mandates training in multiple evidence-based psychotherapeutic modalities and expects postgraduates to independently assess, formulate, and deliver psychotherapy alongside pharmacological and psychosocial interventions. Therefore, psychotherapy is not merely an adjunct to psychiatric practice but an integral component of the professional scope and competency of an MD psychiatrist in India. I would like to start a refresher training programme in psychotherapy, in coordination with all major teaching institutes, NIMHANS, DIMHANS, Private psychiatrists and our senior psychiatrist. The refresher course training will provide a certificate. The initiative can be on the birthday of The GirindrashekBose psychotherapist. EVERY year, this date on January 31 can be celebrated.
For the patients, the insurance does not apply to all mental illnesses. Less than 1% of health insurance claims in India are for mental health.53%of families hospitalising a member for psychiatry fall below the poverty line. 200M Indians live with diagnosable mental health conditions. Section 21 (4)of the Mental Health Act of 2017 already mandates parity between mental and physical health care insurance. Nine years on, that legal promise remains unfulfilled. With the IPS-KC, in collaboration with the IPS Centre, with the initiation of Sukoon, it will be taken to as further level.
There is an existing social security scheme in the centre for psychiatrists; the amount is quite less compared to what IMA is offering. IPS-KC can request the centre to increase the social security scheme.
Women now contribute enormously to psychiatry—as clinicians, teachers, researchers, and administrators. We should continue creating opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and flexible academic participation. A workshop for all the female HODS and faculty will be conducted to promote leadership. A female leader in every district can be identified who will address the grievances of the females in their respective districts and work with our existing IPS Legal Cell in turn with the Women's Cell and the Human Rights Commission.
Strengthening the child psychiatry in areas like ADHD,learning disability will be considered by periodic sensitization during the CME.
No President succeeds alone. Our Society grows through teamwork.I invite senior psychiatrists to continue mentoring us.I encourage young members to participate actively. Every district branch has valuable experiences to share. Together we can build stronger academic and professional networks across Karnataka. Mental healthcare is most effective when we work as one team.
Over the coming year
- Expand academic programmes.
- Promote collaborative research.
- Strengthen district activities.
- Improve public awareness.
- Support young psychiatrists.
- Advocate for better mental healthcare across Karnataka.
These goals are achievable if we work together.
Gratitude
I thank all our past presidents for building the strong foundation on which we stand today.
I thank every organising committee member, every volunteer, and every participant who has made this conference possible. Most importantly, I thank our patients. Their courage reminds us every day why psychiatry matters.
Conclusion
Leadership is not about authority. It is about service. Listening before speaking, bringing people together. If, at the end of my tenure, our members feel more connected, our young psychiatrists feel more supported, our academic activities become stronger, and even one more person receives timely mental healthcare because of our collective efforts, I will consider this presidency successful.
Let us move forward—not as individuals, but as one professional family dedicated to improving mental health across Karnataka. Together, let us lead with science, serve with compassion, and inspirewith integrity.
Thank you.
Jai Hind.
Dr. Kasthuri Pandiyan
President – IPSKC