Established in the Year: 1795
The Institute of mental health has a history of more than 230 years when the East India company appointed the surgeon Valentine Conolly as incharge of a house for accommodating persons with unsound minds.
This Institute was started in 1795 and it is one of the oldest and largest mental hospitals in Asia. After a few transitions in over six decades, the government ordered asylum in a 661/2 acre land of custodial care has developed into the present Institute of mental health, Chennai.
Memorable details of history about the Institute
- 1 The place where the present Institute of mental health is situated now was bought by Dr. Valentine Connolly in 1794 as 46 acres of land.
- 2 In 1799, Dr. John Underwodd, a surgeon, bought 30 acres more to establish the first mental hospital of the country
- 3 From 1807 to 1815, Dr. Dalton expanded the inpatient facility from 20 beds to 54 beds asylum.
- 4 In 1867, the city corporation granted permission to run a mental asylum in 661/2 acres of land in the outskirts of the city and in 1871, Dr. John Murray became the superintendent of the 145 bedded hospital
- 5 In 1896, the city corporation took charge of the asylum and mentally ill prisoners were admitted from all the districts
- 6 In 1922, the name of the asylum was changed to the Government Mental Hospital and Dr. Hensman and Dr. G. R. Parasuram taught the final year MBBS students for 2 weeks. Dr. Dairiam admitted patients on voluntary basis. It was during this period, the ECT and insulin therapy were started
- 7 To combat the excess inflow of patients during 2nd world War, the hospital was expanded with various schemes like- inpatient care, male/ female wards, gardening, weaving and public health care activities through trained nurses.
- 8 More medical equipments and medicines were obtained. Dr. T. George conducted regular review meetings and open admissions without physical restraints were made as inpatients. Criminal ward and Epilepsy ward functioned and the families were allowed to see the patients.
- From 1948- 1957,the hospital had 14 medical officers and a host of other staff. From 1939- 1948, introduction of Electoconvulsive therapy and Insulin coma therapy, including insulin histamine therapy were given. During Phenothiazine Era, barbiturates, paraldehyde, opiates and rauwolfia serpentina were used and were discontinued after the use of chlorpromazine in 1954. In 1948, psychosurgery was done in selected cases and went out of vogue due to poor outcome and development of complications.
- Occupation therapy (1949) and Industrial therapy center (1970) were begun which paved way for rehabilitation of patients. During this period, extension of psychiatric services to general hospitals began in the year 1949.
- From 1957 to 1961, 2 blocks were allotted to TB patients. In 1961, a library was opened and regular Clinical Society Meetings were conducted by Dr. Sharadha Menon. Day hospital and night hospital were functioning.
- 10 Undergraduate medical students and psychology students were given medical education. Post Graduates courses- Diploma in psychological medicine was started in 1972 and and in 1976, MD psychiatry was started at the Institute of mental health. In 2016, M.phil in clinical psychology was started. In 2021, Post basic diploma course in psychiatric nursing was started. In 1922, the name of the institution from “ Government Lunatic Asylum “ witnessed a change to “ Government Mental Hospital “. However, in 1977, it was rechristened as “ Institute of Mental Health “ by the then Honourable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu Dr. M. G. Ramachandran.
- 11 EEG and Radiology departments started functioning. In 2017, Modified ECT administration was started. A further advancement of in non- Pharmacological management was done by starting repeated Transmagnatic Stimulation ( rTMS) in 2020. Other therapies like Biofeedback and yoga therapy were also given to the patients. In 2021, ketamine therapy was also practiced. Furthermore, since 2022, multimodal ICU started functioning in the institute.
- In 2020, Exclusive day care center started functioning. National ID cards were issued since 2021.From 2022, Aadhar card and Unique Disability ID card ( UDID card) were also issued to the patients. By the end of 2022, the government has announced the upgrading of the institution to TIMHANS which is of international standards. In August 2023, the State Mental Health Research Cell along with the the State Mental health Video conference facilities have started functioning in the institute.
- 12. Patients were sent to their homes on Temporary Discharge and recreational activities of all religions were coordinated through qualified social workers and inmates of the institution.
- 13 The taboo that was attached to mental illness as shameful has changed over years to a creative and useful effort that has changed thousands of mentally challenged people. The downsizing of mental health institutions in the western countries due to unusual publicity has ended in gross violation of human rights with more wandering mentally ill and some of them becoming prisoners. This serves as a warning to our country and also encourages in admitting patients in the open Outpatient acute wards, with family members by their side atleast for a short period. This has played a major role in providing proper care in the Mental care delivery system in this modern world
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