Bengaluru: First international conference announced

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, will host its First International Conference on Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Services in Disaster Management from October 10 to 12, 2025. The event will be held in a hybrid format, combining in-person sessions at the NIMHANS Convention Centre with virtual participation globally.

Theme & objectives

Titled “Beyond the Rubble: Building Resilience through Psychosocial Support”, the conference aims to foster global collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building in the psychosocial dimensions of disaster response and recovery.

Key topics will include:

  • climate change and psychosocial impact
  • trauma-informed care
  • psychological first aid
  • community resilience strategies
  • support mechanisms for vulnerable groups
  • innovations in digital mental health interventions

Organizers & structure

The programme is being hosted by NIMHANS’s Department of Psychosocial Support in Disaster Management (DPSSDM). Over three days, it will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, case studies, policy dialogues, scientific paper and poster sessions, and an NGO exhibition. Abstract submissions closed on September 25, and selected contributions will be presented during the event.

Bengaluru: First international conference announced

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, will host its First International Conference on Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Services in Disaster Management from October 10 to 12, 2025. The event will be held in a hybrid format, combining in-person sessions at the NIMHANS Convention Centre with virtual participation globally.

Significance & expected impact

This is a landmark event in India focusing explicitly on mental health within disaster settings. By bringing together researchers, practitioners, NGOs, and policymakers from around the world, it seeks to shape policies and interventions that better integrate psychosocial support into disaster management frameworks. The hybrid format allows wider reach and inclusivity.

Conclusion

With rising climate crises, pandemics, and humanitarian emergencies, integrating mental health and psychosocial support into disaster planning is vital. NIMHANS’s international conference could mark a pivotal step toward making emotional, social, and psychological care integral to disaster response.