Experts from fields including psychiatry, neurosciences, integrative medicine, ayurveda, yoga and healthcare technology from across the country came together for a national workshop on “Integrative Mental Health” organised by Buddhi Clinic.
According to a press release, over the course of the two-day workshop, the participants explored a central question: how can healthcare move beyond treating mental illness to caring for the whole person?
Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy, behavioural neurologist, neuropsychiatrist, and founder of Buddhi Clinic, said that experts, including from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, participated to discuss the use of integrative medicine with special reference to mental health.
B.N. Gangadhar, distinguished scientist-AYUSH, Government of India and former director, NIMHANS, said that they deliberated on several aspects of integrative health approach in psychiatric conditions and mental health in general. For a long period, the Health department has focused on mental illnesses and treating them, he said, adding: “Today, we have woken up to the fact that treating mental illness is one step, promoting better health is the second step, and promoting better resilience to withstand the wear and tear of stress in even healthy individuals is another step.”
He said that a lot of research has been undertaken in recent years by modern science on the use of traditional inputs in the care of people with mental illness, demonstrating that additional benefits could be achieved. Prof. Gangadhar stressed on applying modern medicine and traditional medicine for the best patient outcomes. He said that the discussions will be published as scientific articles in journals.
Referring to the chronic disease burden, Dr. Krishnamoorthy said that solutions such as medications and counselling are unable to provide adequate impact. Persons with mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, and the elderly with dementia may also have co-morbidities. This was where integrative medicine had a role to play, he said.
The different Indian systems of medicine have potential and can add value to patient care. NIMHANS and Buddhi Clinic have integrative medicine health models, he added. “We need to think of integrative mental health seriously as it is the best example of whole person care,” he said.
Aarti Jagannathan, professor of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, said discussions looked at four areas - integrative medicine for service, research, and at the policy-level and education-level.
Kishore Kumar, head, Department of Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS, said that in the context of Tamil Nadu, it was Siddha, while it was Ayurveda for others. The best of all the systems should be taken to treat the patient. The NIMHANS model of integrative medicine considers all modern biomedicines and traditional systems of medicine for patient care.
A book - “Beyond Medication : Whole Person Care” - the fourth volume in the Buddhi Book series by Dr. Krishnamoorthy was released.
Madhuri Kanitkar, former vice chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences; Shivarama Varambally, professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS; and Akshay Anand, professor at the Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, PGI Chandigarh spoke.
Published - August 21, 2026 11:48 pm IST