Gurugram (Haryana) [India], October 27: For decades, India’s mental healthcare story has been shaped by its government institutions. NIMHANS Bengaluru, IHBAS Delhi, CIP Ranchi and TISS Mumbai have trained generations of mental health professionals, contributed to research and policy development, and helped expand access to psychiatric and community-based care.

But as mental health needs grow across the country, a new chapter is unfolding, one in which private psychiatric hospitals are playing an increasingly important role in complementing the public healthcare system.

At the forefront of this shift is Athena Behavioral Health, a private psychiatric hospital and rehabilitation network that provides structured, evidence-based mental health and addiction treatment.

The growing role of organisations like Athena reflects a broader need within India’s mental healthcare ecosystem: timely access to professional assessment, personalised treatment, residential rehabilitation and continued support for individuals and families.

Here is a closer look at five institutions contributing to India’s evolving mental health landscape, including one private healthcare network and four established government or academic institutions.

1. Athena Behavioral Health, Delhi NCR: Expanding Access to Specialised Mental Healthcare

Athena Behavioral Health is a private psychiatric hospital and rehabilitation network with centres across Gurugram, Delhi, Noida and Guwahati, providing evidence-based treatment for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions.

According to the organisation, its Gurugram facility is NABH-accredited, and its network offers more than 200 recovery beds with round-the-clock clinical support.

Athena’s clinical leadership includes Prof. (Dr.) Nimesh G. Desai, former Director of IHBAS, with over four decades of experience in psychiatry and academic associations with NIMHANS Bengaluru and AIIMS Delhi.

The network includes Athena OKAS, a women-only residential mental health and rehabilitation centre, alongside a Greater Noida facility offering integrated mental health and addiction rehabilitation.

Its treatment services include medically supervised detoxification, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD, and integrated care for co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Athena reports having treated more than 50,000 patients, with a 91% treatment completion rate and 88% follow-up compliance.

Under the leadership of Founder and CEO Dr. Shradha Malik, Athena focuses on expanding access to specialised mental healthcare through individualised treatment, clinical expertise and structured recovery support.

2. NIMHANS, Bengaluru: Advancing Public Mental Healthcare and Neuroscience

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), based in Bengaluru, is one of India’s leading institutions for mental health and neuroscience.

As an institution of national importance, NIMHANS combines clinical services with research, professional education and training. It provides specialised care for a wide range of psychiatric and neurological conditions, including mood disorders, psychotic disorders and substance use disorders.

Its contribution extends beyond individual treatment. Through research, training and academic programmes, NIMHANS has helped shape clinical practice and develop generations of mental health professionals.

The institution also plays an important role in strengthening India’s mental healthcare infrastructure and contributing to discussions around mental health policy, public awareness and evidence-based treatment.

Its work illustrates the importance of combining clinical expertise with research and education to improve mental health outcomes across the country.

3. IHBAS, Delhi: Supporting Complex Psychiatric Care in North India

The Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), located in Delhi, is a major government institution focused on mental health and allied neurosciences.

IHBAS provides psychiatric assessment and treatment, specialist services, research and professional training. It serves patients with a broad range of mental health needs, including complex psychiatric conditions that may require specialised evaluation and ongoing care.

The institute has contributed to the development of psychiatric services in Delhi and the wider northern region of India. Its work also supports the training of mental health professionals and the advancement of clinical research.

As demand for mental health services continues to grow, institutions such as IHBAS remain important components of the public healthcare system, particularly for patients who need specialist psychiatric intervention.

Its role demonstrates the value of combining clinical services, research and education within a dedicated mental health institution.

4. Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi: A Longstanding Institution in Psychiatric Care

Established in 1918, the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) in Ranchi is one of India’s oldest institutions dedicated to psychiatric care, research and education.

Over the decades, CIP has developed a significant role in specialist mental healthcare and the training of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

The institute provides psychiatric services and supports research into mental health conditions, treatment approaches and clinical practice. Its academic contribution has helped strengthen the professional foundation of psychiatry in India.

CIP also forms part of the country’s network of major public mental health institutions, serving patients who require specialised care while contributing to the broader development of psychiatric services.

Its history highlights the importance of sustained investment in public institutions that combine treatment, education and research.

5. TISS, Mumbai: Connecting Mental Health, Social Work and Public Policy

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, contributes to India’s mental health ecosystem through education, research, social work and policy engagement.

Unlike a specialised psychiatric hospital, TISS’s role is primarily academic and community-oriented. Its work connects mental health with social conditions, family and community support, access to services, and the wider factors that influence individual wellbeing.

Through social work education, research initiatives and community-based programmes, TISS has helped advance conversations about inclusive mental healthcare and the need to address the social dimensions of mental health.

The institution’s contribution is particularly relevant in a country where stigma, limited awareness and uneven access to services can prevent individuals from seeking support.

By developing professionals and examining the wider social context of mental health, TISS complements the work of clinical institutions and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of care.

Why Both Private and Government Institutions Matter

India’s mental healthcare system depends on multiple types of institutions working towards a shared objective: improving access to appropriate, effective and timely care.

Government hospitals and academic institutions provide essential services, specialist expertise, research, education and public health support. Many also serve patients who rely on subsidised treatment and publicly funded healthcare.

However, access to mental health services remains uneven, with challenges related to the availability of trained professionals, regional disparities, affordability, stigma and the capacity of existing facilities.

Private psychiatric hospitals can complement this infrastructure by offering additional treatment capacity, residential care, medically supervised detoxification, specialised therapeutic programmes and structured follow-up support.

For families seeking help, the availability of different care settings can make it easier to identify treatment suited to an individual’s clinical needs, circumstances and preferences.

The public and private sectors should therefore be viewed as complementary parts of a broader healthcare ecosystem rather than competing alternatives.

The need for collaboration is particularly important in addiction recovery and complex psychiatric conditions, where treatment may involve several stages, from initial assessment and stabilisation to therapy, rehabilitation and long-term follow-up.

Expanding capacity alone is not enough. Improving awareness, reducing stigma, strengthening referral systems and ensuring continuity of care are also essential to helping more people access meaningful support.

A Founder-Led Perspective on the Future of Mental Healthcare

For Dr. Shradha Malik, Founder and CEO of Athena Behavioral Health, the evolution of mental healthcare is closely connected to how individuals and families experience the treatment journey.

Seeking psychiatric help can be difficult. Individuals may face uncertainty about where to go, concerns about stigma or questions about what treatment will involve. Families, meanwhile, often need clear information, professional guidance and reassurance that their loved ones are receiving appropriate care.

A more responsive mental healthcare system must address these concerns alongside clinical treatment.

This means creating care pathways that prioritise professional assessment, evidence-based interventions, dignity, confidentiality and continuity of support. It also means recognising that recovery can look different for different individuals and that treatment plans should be guided by clinical needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Private healthcare providers have an opportunity to contribute by strengthening specialised services and working alongside the wider healthcare ecosystem. Public institutions remain equally important in research, education, specialist care and the development of accessible mental health services.

The long-term opportunity lies in making quality mental healthcare easier to access, more informed by evidence and more responsive to the needs of patients and families.

About Athena Behavioral Health

Athena Behavioral Health operates an integrated network of mental health and rehabilitation centres across Delhi NCR and Northeast India, including facilities in Gurugram, New Delhi, Noida and Guwahati.

The organisation provides psychiatry-led care for addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, dual diagnosis, eating disorders, mood disorders and other complex mental health conditions.

Atul Tiwari

Atul Tiwari is a seasoned journalist at Mumbai Times, specializing in city news, culture, and human-interest stories. With a knack for uncovering compelling narratives, Atul brings Mumbai’s vibrant spirit to life through his writing.